In Library Hall 2023 of Faculty of Design of Vilnius College of Technology and Design May 25 happened the opening of the cartoon exhibition “It’s Easy with Cartoons” by animator, cartoonist and illustrator Mirtad Gazazian and the presentation of the Armenian animation programme.
The exhibition presents the most topical cartoons of the last few years, reflecting both the war in Ukraine and the analysis of human relations, as well as the light humour in sport or in our everyday lives. This is the largest ever exhibition of cartoons from Armenia.
The opening of the exhibition and the screening of the films were attended by a large number of students, lecturers, staff, Lithuanian public figures and representatives of the Armenian diaspora. The opening of the exhibition was also attended by the Ambassador of Armenia Hovhannes Igitiyan, who thanked the Dean of the Faculty of Design of the Vilnius University of Technology and Design, Lorita Butrimiene, for the opportunities to promote Armenian art in Vilnius College of Technology and Design.
The event was organised by Valentas Aškinis, lecturer at the VTDK, Tindirindis International Animation Film Festival, Vilanima Film Studio, Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, Eurochambres, in the framework of the project “EU4Business: Connecting Companies (EU4BCC)”.
About the author: 40 years of experience in the cartoon industry. He has worked in many countries as an independent animation professional on feature-length, short animated films and animated series. From the beginning of the 1980s, Mirtad began to draw cartoons, which were published in magazines, newspapers and many Armenian periodicals. Mirtadas has participated in many international cartoon competitions.
He is a versatile artist: director, animator, cartoonist and book illustrator. His career started in the animation association of the Armenfilm film studio. Here, Mirtad contributed to many famous cartoons. In the 90s, he initially worked in New York at Mark Zander’s studio Zanders Animation Parlour, creating animated commercials for At&T, Saachi, ECKO UNLTD, American Express, Club Med and many others. He has also worked with Nickelodeon, MTV, Funline Animation, J.J. Sedelmaier Productions and other studios. He has also created animated music videos for Zakk Wylde, Melissa Etheridge and Slick Rick. He worked for several years in Ukraine at Sakhaltuyev Productions.
Life is much easier with a sense of humour and, as Mirtad said, “With cartoons everything is easy”.
