Take a look at the interview with Massoud
Shojai Tabatabai, Director of Irancartoon
 web site & Director of the 8th
 Tehran International Cartoon Biennial
by Brazilcartoon

Massoud Shojai Tabatabai - Born 1964 in Tehran . Graduated from the college of Fine Arts of Tehran University in painting , Senior conclusive proficiency in graphic of teacher training university. He is the editor-in-chief of " Kayhan Caricature ", and director of "Iranian house of cartoon ". Member of jury in Nasredin Hodja cartoon contest in Turkey 1999, Member of jury in San Antonio cartoon contest in Cuba 2001. Secretary General of 5th Tehran Biennial Cartoon Contest 2001.Member of jury in Beijing cartoon contest in China 2004. Member of jury in Tehran cartoon contest -City 2004 in Iran 2004. Secretary General of 7th Tehran Biennial Cartoon Contest 2005. Member of jury in Aydin Dogan cartoon contest in Turkey 2005. Member of jury in Geekartoon cartoon contest -in Greece 2006.

Brazilcartoon: The 8th Tehran Cartoon International Biennial had a great international participation concerning to the graphic quality and ideas. Tell us about the level of the received works.

Massoud: Thank you very much for your attention to the 8th Tehran international cartoon biennial. Fortunately , most of the best cartoonists of the world have been participated in this competition and we have seen progress in quality and quantity of the send cartoons in this biennial and this was the reason for growth of the level of this biennial
 ( participation of cartoonists from 85 countries shows this ) .

Brazilcartoon: The events of Iranian humor drawings are the most expected by the participants. Why the theme “Money” in this 8th edition?
Massoud: For selecting the Theme of the 8th biennial we made a meeting by 15 specialized cartoonists with 67 subjects, and after lots of discussions and considerations, they have selected the Theme “MONEY” by the major votes. The reason of the importance of the Theme
“MONEY “is that it can show many problems such as poverty, classic distinction and discrimination.

Brazilcartoon: We, Brazilians, are very proud of the participation of Baptistão as a juror in your event. Why to invite a Brazilian caricaturist to be part of the jury?
Massoud: I think at this time Brazil is very popular in cartoon and caricature in the world, especially in field of portrait. Many well-known cartoonists are from Brazil. It’s a big pride for Iran to have a Brazilian cartoonist in its jurors. In the 7th Tehran international cartoon biennial Mr Baptistao was the winner of the first award of this competition. Good quality of his artworks and attention to interior specialty of his characters is a fine subject we can say about this Brazilian cartoonist. It’s the second time that a Brazilian cartoonist comes to Iran, before
Mr Baptistao, in the 3rd Tehran international biennial Mr Carlos Amorim was one of the jurors and the guest in Iran.

Brazilcartoon: About cartoon, what is its importance for you?Massoud: In my opinion cartoon is an artistic way of objective expression of problems, and now cartoon has became an international language that cartoonists around the world can simply communicate together by this pictorial language.

Brazilcartoon: We would like to know the role of the Iranian cartoons concerning to the political matters, especially about the pressure of the USA. Has it been showed through the Iranian Cartoons?
Massoud: After the victory of Islamic Revolution in IRAN, USA has a bad policy toward IRAN and its 28 years that IRAN is under the prohibition from USA, so it’s natural that most of Iranian cartoonists don’t agree with this policy. IRAN is a peaceful country. But in IRAN cartoonists pay more attention to artistic cartoon and presence of great number of Iranian cartoonists in festivals in IRAN and abroad and gaining lots of prizes in these festivals shows this subject.

Brazilcartoon: Iran Cartoon has a fundamental role for the cartoonists of the world. We feel as if your website were an oásis for the artists dying for information on contests and news. We know that you have been on the Net for more than ten years. How did this idea appear?
Massoud: I really thank you for your attention to the site of Iran cartoon; we try to pay attention on different aspects of cartoon in this site, and we are happy to have lots of viewers around the world. But for answer to the second part of your question, I have to say that the site of Iran cartoon from the year 2000 started its work by the goal of putting Iranian cartoon and caricature art in international arts and step by step extended in different fields, and now we have many good friends from around the world and specially your country and it’s a big pride that by the help of our friends we are able to make the site of Iran cartoon more powerful.

Brazilcartoon: Have you been to Brazil? What do you think of the Brazilian cartoons?Massoud: Unfortunately I have never been in your country, but once I was a juror in CUBA (a country near you). In my opinion Brazilian cartoonists mostly have generous style and I hope we can have a common exhibition with famous Brazilian cartoonists.

Brazilcartoon: In your opinion, besides being known as the country of futebol and carnival, can we be named as the country of cartoon?Massoud: Yes, because of the good quality of artworks of your cartoonists, and I think your country has the capacity that we name it the land of cartoon and caricature too.

Brazilcartoon: Brazilcatoon calls itself as a son of irancartoon. How do you define it?
Massoud: It shows your humbleness that you say the fine site of Brazil cartoon is the son of site of Iran cartoon, we named http://www.fanofunny.com/as our father, so this site should be known as our grandfather! Eventually I should thank my dear friend Mr Marcio Leite and I think by presence of this cartoonist in Brazil cartoon
(that in my opinion is very specialized) this site became able to find lots of fan around the world and in a short time brought fame for the site and Brazilian cartoonists.

Cinara Dreide
Journalist
Brazilcartoon’s Assistent of Communication.
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