interview with Iranian Caricaturist
Bozorgmehr Hosseinpour
By Abbas Ghazi Zahedi in Iranian House of Cartoon
10 pm of a not very far Wednesday night! I had a phone appointment by Bozorgmehr Hosseinpour . I telephoned him but he changed the appointment to 11/30 of the same night, I didn’t know why, perhaps he wanted to see the serial "Under the Blade"! Any way it became an interesting interview. I omitted Bozorgmehr's artistic biography because he doesn’t need to be introduced. The outcome of this one hour speaking is lots of information from his becoming a cartoonist till his entertainments and website that you wanted to know about him.

 Why cartoon?
Because I didn’t know anything else!

 What was your first cartoon?
A Cartoon of my father… 

Who are the best Iranian and Foreigner cartoonist?
Foreigner: Sempe.  Iranian: Touka Neyestani and Kambiz Derambaksh.


Brad pit by Bozorgmehr

Whose style impressed you?
I was impressed by all good cartoonists of the world, especially Sempe and Murt Drucker. 

What things you don’t like to draw?
I try not to draw cartoons of whom I appreciate!

 Like whom?
Spiritual persons!

Your best cartoonist friend?
Majid Salehi. 

The best cartoon you have ever seen?
I have seen lots of good works, but I don’t remember
 them now .Perhaps the collected works of Sempe!

 The best cartoon that you draw?
I haven’t drawn it yet! 

Why everybody says that?
Because nobody is satisfied with his own work,
 until he reaches the best one!

 Everyone knows you by your Comic strips, why are you so interested in this kind of work?
Because like cinema that has 7 arts, we observe different arts in comic strips too: cartoon, caricature, painting, picture, collage, short and long story and even cinema can be applied in decoupage form. In my opinion it’s a complete art. 

How much comic strip can affect the viewers?
It can't be answered easily, because we have good and bad comics and also different tastes. In my opinion it is a small cinema and we should discuss about it.

Have you felt this effect on yourself too?
Yes, in social satires that I bring up. I entirely feel the effect on the viewers. 

How the opinion of your comic strips comes to your mind?
It might come from everywhere and without limitation! You are sitting on a taxi or a bus, or you are walking in the street or just taking a shower, then suddenly something comes in to your mind that you can think and work about it!

 Tell us about your book" GheroGhambil"?
This book is a collection of my 150 comic strips that had been printed in "Chelcheragh" magazine, but there are still lots of my works that must be published! 

What are the similarities of your works with jokes?
That part of cartoon that makes people smile!

 What was the last SMS you have been received?
Its better that I don’t tell it! 

And the SMS before that?
I don’t want you to stay, even if you stay for me. I don’t want you to leave, even if you leave for me. 

How much is your relation with the lines?
We are very near! 

What's your opinion about an eraser?
Sometimes I use it. It’s very useful!

Why some people say that using an eraser shows weakness?
In my opinion nobody said that! I think it can be true about drawing!

 Was there anytime that someone gave you an idea?
Yes! 

Who was that?
Usually my relatives, friends, colleagues say
 why you didn’t draw anything about this subject?

 Did you like I interviewed you by chat?
It didn’t make any difference, what is important is that we can say whatever we want. In my opinion what is important is meaning!

Did you become tired?
No, that’s just the beginning of fun!

 

What would you do if you were not a cartoonist?
I don’t know, I have never thought about that!

 How is your income and expenditure?
Very good!

Do you have any new work in animation?
Yes I have two new works simultaneously, one of them is for advertisement and the other is a cultural work that I have recently contracted with SABA.

Between cartoon, caricature and comic strip which one do you prefer?
All of them are nice, like different kinds of food that each time you want to eat one of them! 



What's your opinion about the 7th biennial?
It was the best biennial that has been celebrated!

 

What about Jan Op De beeck?
I liked him more than his works!

 What about Moulatier?
I liked his works more than himself! 

You were one of the members of board of elections in the 7th biennial, do you think which one is more difficult selecting or to be selected?
None of them are difficult…

 

What is your best and worst memory from the 7th biennial?
The best memory was visiting Moulatier and the worst
 was that I thought him much better!

 Have you ever been punished for your works?
Many times! 

How do you feel when you are praised?
I feel happy!

 Whom do you want to be like?
I want to be like Zeidan!(Zizi-france) 

What's your most important duty now?
Having tranquility! 

How much do you feel responsible for the society?
I feel that I am more responsible for myself than anybody else, and more than that the limit of heart and human respect is important for me, if everyone know this, all the society will be corrected, but most of the time we think in reverse, just like a group of people that are sinking and the first one should be rescued to save the others, we come to save them but because we didn’t save ourselves, we will drown all of them!

 What's your opinion about "House of Cartoon"?
It’s a center for cartoonists that can train people, speak together and drink tea.

 How can become Bozorgmehr Hosseinpour?
By scalding you head and drawing for many years!

 Which one of your works is like yourself?
Lots of my works! 

Like what?
Like many of my other works! 

Describe Bozorgmehr Hosseinpour in one sentence?
A small person with great expectations! 

How Many Prizes did you take? And which one was the most important one?
I didn't take many Prizes, so I can't use the word "The most".

 

Do you think how much writing can be
 effective in cartoon or Comic strip?
If writing be correct and on time it can surely affect the works! 

From where your writings appear?
From the heart of my life! 

What's your opinion about Publication Working?
I think it's the most effective kinds of work in the Society.
 And because it gets in to touch with people's
ordinary life it can have a good effect on it.

 What's your hobby?
I have different hobbies, ruining with my cat, shopping with my wife, going to trips with my friends, watching TV and doing everything that  we can name it hobby!

 Do you have any wish about Cartoon that you couldn't gain?
A cartoonist one time thinks about how to draw, then thinks about what to draw. There are lost of things that I didn't draw yet, if I live long I can draw them, if not don’t worry about it.

 What about your life?
There was no wish that I couldn't gain.

 How Much your mood affects your works?
Very Much

What subject do you like your Last work be about?
I have never thought about that.

 Which section of your life is like cartoon?
All my life!

What was the reason of starting a website?
I liked to have a separate place to show may opinions, criticisms and works every day or weeks that don't depend on my where else.

 Do you update your website yourself?
Yes. 

Which kinds of your works do you Show in your website?
Sometimes my not printed works and Sometimes
 my old works that I want to review them and the
rest of my daily works.

 Would you please give us your Web Site address?www.bozicartoon.com 

What’s your opinion about the 8th biennial?
In my opinion the 8th biennial was perfect. From the number of participants till the quality of the works, we observed lots of very good works.  Also in this year because of increase of comic strips we had variety of subjects.  
First Prize:Bozorgmehr Hosseinpoor/Iran
 2000$, Trophy and Honorable Mention

Did you expect to win any Prize in this biennial?
Yes, I really had such a feeling. But don't think I'm a proud person! 

How did you feel when you heard that you were the first winner of caricature section?I became very happy, having a prize in such a credible ceremony is a big pride for every one, let alone that the First prize! 

 Did you like to be asked any question?
No, not fortunately, you asked all the questions! 

The last sentence?
I hope you Jaws don't ache!

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