Artist Profile | Cartoon & Caricature

Mihai Ignat

His first debut in caricature was in 1987 with participation in the “House of Humor and Satire” in Gabrovo, Bulgaria. It is notable that Mihai Ignat does not publish his work in newspapers or other magazines, but rather reserves all his resources for “battles” in competitions. In 1996 he gave a performance that went around the world, the artist won first prize at the “Aydin Dogan” Cartoon Competition in Ankara, and three years later he won the same prize. This competition organized by Hurriyet is gaining prestige by having the most coveted prizes in the world. Therefore, Ignat's interpretation of Mihai highlighted the Romanian caricature by far. As critics say: “He began his career using the linocut technique, but then switched to watercolor. His greatest successes occurred when the Romanian caricature was looking for a new form of interpretation, since in 1990 there was an important change in the Romanian political system. Mihai Ignat reused old themes from his drawings, but he made himself known by using new forms of expression. Therefore, he often changed not one, but two elements of a real situation. Thus the two-faced caricature was born, a more complex caricature, typical of that time. In fact, Ignat invents fictitious situations on which he creates a joke appreciated by both the jury and the public. Presenting a work of graphic art rich and varied in the themes that the artists address, from anecdote to parable, from pastiche to ingenious invention. He has finally managed to prevail in national and international exhibitions, being a master of black humor.” He has won numerous national and international awards in countries such as Norway (Friedrikstad), Russia (Moscow), Ukraine (Zaporoje, Kiev), Croatia (Zagreb), Japan (Tokyo), Italy (Cuneo, Trento, Tolentino, Marostica, Folignio) . , Spilinbergo), Poland (Zelona Gora, Legnica, Niemodlin), Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara), Korea (Seoul), England (London), Taiwan (Taipei), Belgium (Bree), Bulgaria (Gabrovo, Sofia), Portugal ( Porto), Iran (Tehran), Serbia (Zemun), Greece (Rhodes), Canada (Otawa), Sweden (Stockholm), China (Nanjing), Cyprus (Nicosia), Germany (Berlin) Mexico (and Mazatlán). In Romania he also won prizes in Suceava, Tulcia, Bucuresti, Ploiesti and Braila. His creations are exhibited in private collections, museums and other institutions that represent caricature throughout the wild world, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran, the Istanbul Caricature Museum, Warsaw, the Satyrykon Foundation Collection in Legnica, the caricature exhibition in Montreal, Canada and the Ceará Caricature Biennial, Brasilia. The works of Mihai Ignat are not missing from the catalogs of the most important international cartoon competitions in recent years.