Exhibition: Abu’s World

To celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of famous political cartoonist Abu Abraham, a special exhibition called Abu’s World opened on November 6, in New Delhi. The event began with historian Professor Romila Thapar inaugurating the show, which is open to the public until November 19. The exhibition features a vast collection of Abraham’s cartoons, caricatures, comic strips, and animations, covering over fifty years of his work.

Abu Abraham’s career stretched from the 1940s to the early 2000s. He was known for his sharp humour and ability to comment on serious political events in an accessible way. “Abu had a unique way of cutting through the noise, making the serious approachable without trivializing it,” said Thapar at the opening.

The exhibition showcases Abraham’s well-known cartoons from his time with The Guardian, The Observer, and The Indian Express, where he didn’t hesitate to challenge politicians and social issues. “Abu’s work is more than just political commentary,” explained curator Rajiv Menon. “It’s a reflection of the times, seen through the eyes of someone who witnessed history first-hand”.

The show also includes Abraham’s award-winning 1969 animation No Arks, a humorous take on the Noah’s Ark story, which is being shown on a large screen.

Abraham, originally from Kerala, began his journalism career in Bombay before moving to London in 1953. His cartoons soon appeared in The Punch and The Tribune, gaining him recognition. He returned to India in 1969 to work for The Indian Express and later served as a Rajya Sabha member. He eventually settled in Kerala, where he lived until his death in 2002.

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The exhibition, open daily from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, invites the public to discover Abu Abraham’s work—a lively mix of art and political humour that still resonates today.

When: Until November 19; 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Where: Art Gallery, Kamaladevi Complex, IIC, New Delhi