"Cartoon and Caricature from Iran" - IUPUI Cultural Arts Gallery - March 10, 2004 - 2 stars

Artists' statements and inspiration or purpose for the exhibition were not available. Stylistically, nothing about this work suggested a distinctive sense of place. It looked like it could have come out of any American newspaper. Organized by the Iranian America Student Association of IUPUI, this small exhibition of work by Touka Neyestani, Nik Ahang Kowsar and Massad Shojaitabatabai (IUPUI students or artists from Iran?) left something to the imagination. Cartoons and caricatures on display were inkjet reproductions of originals with some colors and details being lost in this process. A predominant theme was that of power struggle touching on the war in Iraq. One cell depicted Saddam Hussein in a Santa suit being approached by a small reindeer that asks, "Are you a Bad Santa?" Many of these frames could very well accompany news pieces covering current events in the Middle East. Through March 31, 2004; 317-274-3931. -Mary Lee Pappas