Stephff draws fine line searching for the funny face of politics

Yingluck will certainly be a star at the exhibition featuring the 60 political cartoons published in The Nation. Her caricature has taken over the spot her brother Thaksin held in Stephff’s first exhibition eight years ago.
“Yingluck’s been a favourite cartoon for the past few years. But it’s not easy to make fun of a female prime minister without her fans accusing you of being sexist and misogynistic. I consider it as fair to make fun of her woman’s touch since she was the one who tried to take advantage of it,” he said.
The French artist admits it is difficult to draw cartoons during this critical time in Thai politics. The challenge is that he had to try to keep balance.
“I get insults from both camps. Yet, it’s a good sign that you are upsetting them with bits of truth. I’ve learnt to appreciate being insulted because it is the ultimate proof that the nail is being hit on the head ... And that’s what cartooning is supposed to be,” the cartoonist said.
Stephff started drawing editorial illustrations for The Nation in 2003 and his cartoons and star characters well reflect the country’s political scene. This time, his new solo exhibition will feature the likes of Yingluck, Suthep Thaugsuban, Abhisit Vejjajiva and the upcoming star coup-maker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Many assumed the coup would bring less artistic freedom – but in the world of cartoons, Stephff said that his work is now slightly easier as the coup has really calmed down the situation in Thailand. “I’m pretty sure the coup has achieved that ‘cool down’ effect,” he said.
Yet his 60 political cartoons, when put together, illustrate a powerful influence on Thai politics. This led to his first exhibition plan at Alliance Francaise on October 2-18 being cancelled by the venue. The military did not forbid it but the venue organisers feared the exhibition would lead to trouble. The cartoonist then looked for a new place to host his works and found “Cho Why” near Chinatown – but only for one day, from 7pm till midnight.
Having Prayut added as a new “star” of his show is inevitable, thanks to the PM’s character. He said that Prayut was a fantastic cartoon character with so much potential.
“He can be as sexist as Berlusconi – he has a certain ‘I don’t care what the West thinks about me’ of Mahathir or Chavez. Don’t forget that leaders who reject the West are always very interesting and favourites as cartoon characters,” he said.
People would imagine it rather difficult for him to express his artistic freedom in Thailand. On the contrary, Stephff is rather content with the present scene.
“I think I have quite a lot of freedom in Thailand. I have been published in many Muslim countries, in many European countries, in China, in Malaysia, in Singapore, and in Cambodia.
“Let me tell you this loud and clear: you don’t enjoy editorial freedom in those countries like you enjoy it in Thailand. Try a cartoon about Hun Sen in Cambodia or Mahathir in Malaysia and the chief editor will get a phone call the next day. So, yes, I enjoy a fair amount of freedom in Thailand. And so far so good with
the new military regime,” Stephff said.
The cartoonist knows that working in this profession will draw haters. “A lot of people just hate you for telling the truth. When they love you, they only love you because you say exactly the same thing they want to hear. If you want to be loved by all, (political) cartooning is the wrong job.”
Stephff’s ‘Frankenstein-ocracy’ exhibition will be held at Cho Why gallery off Rama IV in Chinatown (MRT Hua Lamphong) on Thursday from 7pm till midnight. Originals with his autograph will be on sale.