South African illustrator and cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) released his latest annual, Which Side is Up.
Jonathan enthralled audiences in Benoni on November 18 as he told them of his journey from drawing illustrations in high school to becoming a household name.
On November 13, he was awarded the Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters by the French ambassador to South Africa, Aurélien Lechevallier.
The award is presented to people who have distinguished themselves by their creativity in the field of art, culture and literature or for their contribution to the influence of arts in France and throughout the world.
Jonathan, who initially studied architecture, decided to pursue graphic design before being conscripted into the army.
He said while in the army he refused to carry a weapon and as a result was given a lead pole to carry around.
“On one occasion, I was posted on guard duty and had to carry my lead pipe with me, already then one could say I was satirising the system from within.”
While in the army he became involved in the then newly formed United Democratic Front (UDF) and later, the End, Conscription Campaign.
In 1987, he pursued a career as an editorial cartoonist, but the following year he was detained by security police before leaving on a Fulbright Scholarship to study media arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Jonathan said he was the third person in his family to be arrested without trial, before him, his mother and sister were also arrested by security police.
After he was released, Jonathan studied in New York and when he returned, he pursued his career in earnest.
“I’d say it was only in my 30s when I discovered my drawing style,” said Jonathan.
“I’d recommend that any aspiring illustrator should try various styles and not push one style of drawing.”
During his career, Jonathon has created thousands of illustrations varying from persons of interest to South African presidents and even Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
