Following the announcement of this year’s World Press Cartoon results and the noticeable similarities in the Grand Prize-winning work, both open and private discussions have erupted among artists.
The first reaction came from Luc Descheemaeker, who presented a cartoon strikingly similar to the winning entry by Darko Drljević, accusing him of plagiarism. However, Darko completely denied the allegation.
Later, Javad Takjoo, a well-known Iranian artist, joined the discussion and wrote:
About the recent discussions…
Dear cartoonist friends and colleagues,
Over the past few days, there has been a lot of talk about the results of some cartoon festivals. During the last several hours, I also received many messages from colleagues.
But honestly, only a few cartoonists shared a constructive view. Most of the messages focused on the similarities between artworks or even criticized the cartoonist who won the prize, while almost no one talked about the organization or judging process, nor offered any real solutions to improve it.
In the article I wrote yesterday, my main focus was clearly on the organizers and jurors of these festivals, not on the participating artists.
I tried to draw attention to the judging process and to look for solutions to these challenges, not to create confrontation or personal judgment.
Our goal is not to attack any artist. On the contrary, we all value the effort, creativity, and years of work of our colleagues.
We’ve all faced moments where our ideas looked similar to others, because creative minds sometimes move in the same direction.
But that’s not the real issue here.
What truly matters is the judging process and selection system, which need to keep up with the reality of today’s art world and new tools like AI.
Our aim is to start a constructive conversation, so that festivals can regain credibility, transparency, and trust.
Because at the end of the day, we all share the same wish:
That the voice of cartoon art, the voice of thought, humor, and freedom, can be heard fairly.
Hicabi Demirci responded to Javad, saying:
When my work received an award, I immediately informed the competition committee about the situation and requested that necessary action be taken. They did not revoke their decision. I want you to know this. And, I agree with what dear Javad wrote.
Unfortunately, competitions are being defeated by the existence of outdated regulations.
Interest groups that protect each other quietly watch what’s happening.
Yet, artists who speak out on every issue should also talk and discuss matters concerning their own profession.
We cannot resolve this problem by exhibiting who has made similar works so far, unfortunately, that’s what has been happening until now.
If we truly want to protect the art of cartooning, we must urgently put into practice what our friend Javad has written.
Erdogan Karayel also shared his thoughts:
Dear Javad..
Dear Friends..
We are no longer surprised by anything…
Caricature, all over the world, is gradually losing its strength.
Such examples are becoming more and more common.
Granting awards to works that clearly resemble previously published cartoons
not only damages the reputation of those competitions,
but also negatively affects the image of the jury members and the awarded artists.
I keep thinking…
We write and draw so much,
yet why do these examples keep repeating themselves?
Is it indifference? Irresponsibility? Or perhaps…
a deliberate act of sabotage against the art of caricature itself?
Once again, Javad has held up a mirror to the international caricature scene.
This is not the first time, and surely it will not be the last.
What we are witnessing is a global discrediting of caricature as an art form.
It’s hard to understand why — despite knowing the causes and the possible solutions —
there is still insistence on repeating the same mistakes.
Still, we must not remain silent.
We must continue to expose these examples, tirelessly and fearlessly.
In a way, World Press Cartoon is paving the way for its own downfall.
Once a shining star years ago,
it has recently been sending out clear S.O.S. signals —
and yet, it refuses the helping hands extended to it.
Let these words serve as a final warning
to them and to those who think like them.
I truly hope they take the necessary steps,
and that our efforts to restore the dignity of caricature
will not be in vain.
For now, it is just a hope…
But seeing it come true in the future
will make us happy —
and will help shape the future of caricature art itself.
Thank you, dear Javad,
for bringing this issue to public attention.
And thanks also to all fellow artists
who shared their thoughts on this matter.
In the end,
the real winner will be caricature itself -of that I have no doubt.
With love… with draw..
The debate continued, both publicly and behind the scenes, until Varchango also decided to speak out:
Well, what do you think?
A major international competition gives an award to a design that is actually 100% stolen.
The organizer of the contest, in response to significant statements claiming that this is not an original work but a repetition of an earlier one, writes that the decision was made by five important artists and that nothing is going to change.
Each year, the circle of festivals and competitions in our field becomes narrower and narrower in terms of the quality of juries, and that’s because there are simply too many of them.
Disgust, self-punishment, brotherhood, you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours, a perfect vision for the future.
And don’t ask why I haven’t participated anywhere in the last two or three years. What’s the point?
Well, look at three different jobs and notice the differences… all within a single idea.
I’m not afraid to express my opinion, even though it might have negative consequences for me in the future.
Well, so be it.
Shame on you!
Walter Toscano commented on his own page:
PLAGIARISM AGAIN AND AGAIN
There are increasingly more offenses against art. Through prize-winning plagiarism, the work of the true artist who creates, who proposes something different, is attacked; these competitions, very well funded to promote a particular political agenda, are the most corrupt. Yes, it must be said, ideology corrupts the soul; hatred against a particular politician overshadows what is most important: the artistic proposal. In this way, whoever throws the most garbage wins. Originality doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter if the winners and the jury are against honesty; plagiarism is their banner, and they display it with pride. Few of us are not afraid. Many speak evasively, without conviction. We must say enough to dishonesty, to the attack against ART.
Eventually, Darko Drljević broke his silence and responded to all the criticism. His full statement follows below.
Since there has been an uproar these days about the “plagiarism” of my winning work in Portugal, it is time for me to speak out. I never need help from anyone with ideas because my brain works at 100%. I have received over three hundred awards worldwide, and I always create independently.Suddenly, a work appeared that was said to be similar, allegedly drawn eight years ago, without any proof. This photograph, which others have manipulated, had not been seen by me until now and had not appeared elsewhere. That is true, like the moon is not visible until sunlight shines on it.
My work was created about two years ago. In the first version, it featured Frankenstein, which I embroidered with Trump’s signatures, but later I came up with a better idea using the Statue of Liberty. This work was first published on the state television portal, which can be easily verified at rtcg.me. Later, in March 2025, I published this work in the magazine “Monitor,” which I sent along with my other works to the festival competition in Portugal for the winning work of my esteemed colleague from Turkey, Demirici, as far as I can tell, news about it was published at the end of May, which was a little later than when I sent my works. It is possible that he drew it around the same time as me. However, I would never call it plagiarism because I know he is a great artist who never engages in such things.His work is even shown with a needle and thread, like mine, and not with a signature pasted on the mouth of a photograph that, when enlarged, does not resemble anything. So, does Desmacher think that this scribble of his would be noticed in a competition? And how can an artist be so easily attacked for being a plagiarist rather than for having a similar idea? That is not how it works.Only those people will react and support him like that. But they are the most dangerous and loudest critics. Let them advertise themselves and meddle in other people’s affairs this way, while I will continue to work, create, and win world awards as before! In the prologue, I am also sending my original work, the sketch from which my winning piece was created.Alas, my comrades, you have struck a stronger blow.
As the great Montenegrin bishop and poet Njegoš said, “A hard nut is a strange fruit; it does not break, but it breaks your teeth.”
However, Cartoon Magazine does not take sides in this controversy. We neither confirm nor deny any claim but have instead gathered all viewpoints and leave the fair, unbiased conclusion to our readers.
Our point is this: none of us artists can claim that similarities between works do not exist. Such overlaps often happen unintentionally. Sometimes, we even mistake an image stored in our subconscious for our own idea, a simple, human mistake.
For months, we have emphasized, in our weekly One-Sheet series, the importance of selecting qualified, knowledgeable jurors with strong visual memory and cultural awareness. Unfortunately, few seem to pay attention. Festival directors like the secretary of World Press Cartoon, who arrogantly consider themselves superior and never take responsibility or apologize for their mistakes, continue to act as they please, depriving artists of their rightful recognition.
Cartoon Magazine will share its official opinion on this issue in One-Sheet No. 61.
We will continue to work for cartoons and for peace, and together, we will keep this art form alive.
Respectfully,
Abbas Naaseri
Franchise owner and responsible manager of www.cartoonmag.com
& Founder of “COGV”
