European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday february 16, 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 9over Here Dietmar Maldaner left has arranged exhibits of cartoons like the ones Abote. One cartoonist pokes fun at the military Center while another subtly comments on the Success of communism right German finds hidden treasure in soviet cartoons by Gary Pomeroy staff writer Frankfurt. West Germany a the cartoon depicts the soviet Union s Hammer and sickle. But the sickle is stamped. Quot made in the Hammer. Quot made in its meaning is Plain says Dietmar Maldaner. Communism does t work. Quot the idea of communism is an illusion. It May work on another planet but not this Maldaner. .15. Is an unlikely expert on underground soviet political cartoons the free Lance computer Programmer who lives in Wiesbaden West Germany got involved in soviet cartoons through a Chance meeting with Valentin to Sansev. The head of a cartoon caricature association in Latvia 1 he two Mcl last May when to Santics accompanied a theater troupe to Wiesbaden. Quot due to our language Barrier we communicated through Maldaner said. Maldaner was impressed by Rosant Sev s drawing ability and arranged to exhibit some of his latvian Friend s works in Wiesbaden last june. Rosanel ses then invited Maldaner to Riga the latvian capital to judge a cartoon and caricature exhibition in july. Quot it s safer to have an exhibit like this in the Baltic states because they Are far away from Maldaner said. Latvia is South of Estonia and North of Lithuania and its capital is about 500 Miles West of Moscow. Cartoonists and caricaturists from All Over the soviet Union competed for 5.000 rubles. The Money provided by three latvian companies was divided among four winners. The top three winners received 1.500 rubles apiece or about a half year s wages. Some 160 contest entries formed the bulk of a Cha a a three Day exhibit last weekend at the Terrace club in Frankfurt. Maldaner said the exhibits name like much of its Art. Is Subtle. Its Loose translation Means openly laughing at the surrounding environment. Forbidden before the recent developments in the East such laughter is still not widely accepted by soviet officials Mal dance said. One cartoon for example depicts some soviet cartoons like the one at the top. Have no hidden meanings. But most tolerated but a lot is not a have hidden messages. A amps Davad Dio like the Bottom one that says a Little laughter is Large drawings of the word Quot a Quot in cages while smaller versions of the word float freely. Its meaning. Mal dance explained is that Small laughter against the soviet Union is acceptable a lot of laughter is not. Maldaner said soviet underground cartoons Are often used to pass messages because phones might be bugged and mail opened. Quot the surface meaning is not usually what is really he said. Many older artists have spent months or years in prisons and Are highly skilled at disguising meanings. Quot when they arc in jail they can concentrate on their Maldaner said. Younger artists were raised in a less disciplined environment and use fewer hidden meanings. In one cartoon for example a . And soviet handshake creates a Bridge that soviets use to Rush Over to the . Side. Maldaner Hopes to build a Bridge of his own. He plans to play Host to cartoonists from the soviet Union and West european nations during a Wiesbaden exhibit in june. Quot i stay in Contact with the artists and i Hope i can help them by being a Liaison Between them and the Maldaner got permission from the soviet culture ministry to exhibit the cartoons after agreeing to pay about shoo every three months to the latvian youth Center activity. He also must pay about s100 for each original he Sells. The Art is owned by the youth activity Center in Riga which shares the Money with the artists. Maldaner also has arranged to Lake some donated Art supplies to Latvia when he returns there in May. He will also take Western items requested by the artists. Quot Walkman Are popular Quot he said
