Kuwait Cartoonists Association hosts exhibition and 'Filial Son' cartoon competition, honors Dr. Saleh Al-Ajiri

The Kuwaiti Cartoonists Association held an exhibition and competition titled “The Third Caricature of the Filial Son” and a portrait of the late Dr. Saleh Al-Ajery, the exhibition’s personality of the year, today, Wednesday, with participation from cartoonists from Kuwait and around the world.

Mohammed Thallab, president of the association, told journalists that the exhibition and competition are held under the patronage of Ibrahim Al-Baghlai, chairman of the board of directors of the Ibrahim Al-Baghlai Filial Son Foundation. The event features more than 100 artistic works that collectively address the ethical and social values embodying filial piety and reinforcing this value in society.

Thallab explained that the selection of the late astronomer Dr. Saleh Al-Ajery as the exhibition’s personality of the year is in recognition of the ethical and patriotic values he embodied and his contribution to instilling these values in Kuwait’s younger generations. He noted that the exhibition includes a series of paintings portraying Al-Ajery through portrait art.

He added that the exhibition sees participation from artists in more than 50 countries, presenting diverse artistic works on the theme of the filial son and the personality of Al-Ajery. This year marks the first-time participation of several countries in the competition, including Scandinavian nations, Brazil, and Malaysia, alongside artists from China and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Thallab expressed gratitude and appreciation to Ibrahim Al-Baghlai, chairman of the board of directors of the Ibrahim Al-Baghlai Filial Son Foundation, for his support and patronage of the competition, his advocacy of the filial son concept, and his commitment to entrenching this value in Kuwaiti society. He also commended the efforts of the organizing committee and participating artists in preparing the exhibition and presenting the artworks in a manner that reflects the diversity of experiences and artistic schools.

He pointed out that the exhibition will run for a week, after which the organizing committee will announce the names of the top three winners. He expressed his hope for the continued attraction of more artistic participation from various countries around the world.

For his part, Ali Hassan, chairman of the Supreme Committee of the Al-Baghlai Filial Son Award, said in a similar statement that the third edition of the cartoon art exhibition in 2026 comes within the framework of efforts to enhance the virtue of filial piety and entrench authentic human and social values in Kuwaiti society by employing plastic arts and caricature to convey purposeful awareness messages to various segments of society.

Hassan added that the selection of the late Dr. Saleh Al-Ajery reflects the commitment of the award’s organizers to highlight inspiring Kuwaiti figures who have left indelible marks on the country’s history and to introduce their contributions to new generations, thereby reinforcing values of loyalty and appreciation for those who give.

He emphasized that the exhibition serves as an artistic and cultural platform that brings together creators and enthusiasts of caricature art, allowing them to express human and social issues through innovative artistic methods. He stressed the importance of continuing such initiatives, which contribute to spreading a culture of filial piety and enhancing social responsibility.

(End) M.D.M.