New Delhi: Art requires no language to convey a message. More so if it is a cartoon. An exhibition of cartoons from Asian countries proves the point. A trendy girl in a chic tee and jeans with folded hands before the ancient guru begs him for the secret of life. Pat comes the reply, "go to www.secret of life.com and see ok".

A young boy engrossed playing games on TV, while his father is down on floor literally begging to let him watch news. "Forget about the oil shortage. Have you noticed the textile shortage." Guys looking at skimpily dressed girls walking by. These are some of the cartoons from ten Asian cartoonists displayed at the Okakura Tenshin Gallery in the capital by the Japan Foundation from February 27 to March 12.

The cartoonists are from India, Bangladesh, Japan, China, Vietnam, Philippines,Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia. Director Japan foundation Nao Endo says, "It is a way of experiencing the culture of the countries and connecting together. Japanese traditional theatre might not be so easy to understand by the common person here in India but cartoons are easily understood."

"We have been organising this cartoon exhibition every year since 1995. And it has been improving every year," says Endo. Almost 85 per cent of the world's youth lives in developing countries, with approximately 60 per cent in Asia alone according to the UN website. Thus the theme of this year's cartoons being youth is very appropriate.

Source : PTI