GEORGE TOWN – The vaccination centre (PPV) at Setia Spice Convention Centre is giving ill-fated cartoonists a new lease on life with a platform to draw and sell caricatures.
Ahmad Shakirin Mohd Zain, 52, who has worked as a cartoonist in both Kuala Lumpur and Penang, had his income reduced to almost zero since the start of the pandemic.
“Before this, I was drawing caricatures at Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, and when I came back before the pandemic, I set up at Komtar, Esplanade, and also at Armenian Street.
“Now I am drawing and cosplaying, earning around RM1,000 on a good month. When I set up my caricature booth, I sometimes earn RM50 to RM60, sometimes nothing at all.
“I also cannot set up a stall every day as I have to take my wife for dialysis treatments,” he said.
Azmi Hussin, 37, who draws caricatures on the streets of George Town, had to go online during the lockdown. However, online sales do not do as well as drawing caricatures onsite.
He said he believes many people are currently financially strapped, so most would not spend money on art.
“When I was drawing caricatures in George Town, I could earn around RM500 per day, and I know cartoonists who would travel to Penang, book a room in a budget hotel and draw throughout the weekend.
“I could earn RM5,000 to RM6,000 per month pre-Covid-19. Now, it is probably just RM1,000,” he said.
Penang Tourism and Creative Economy exco Yeoh Soon Hin said giving these cartoonists avenues at PPVs will improve their income and educate the public about the state’s artists and creative industry talents.
He added that the state must think of alternative ways to assist these artists.
Yeoh said that the initiative at the PPV is meant to increase their sources of income, seeing that foot traffic is highest at PPVs now, as opposed to shopping malls or the streets.
The platform, he said, is the first of its kind in Malaysia, where cartoonists can show off their talents and land more gigs.
“If the sector can be developed, we believe it will be one of the important contributors to Penang’s gross domestic product,” he said.
Penang Museum Board director Haryani Mohamad said that they will extend the programme to Seberang Jaya, to be launched on Malaysia Day on September 16. A cartoonist will be stationed at the Vangohh Eminent Hotel PPV.
“Cartoonists are different from artists who paint in the studio or at home. They highlight a person’s facial features to make art in the form of a cartoon. Therefore, it is more difficult for them to sell their art online.
“Each masterpiece takes five to 10 minutes to complete, and is sold from RM10, to RM30 at the most for a fully coloured piece,” she said.
Light-heartedly, Haryani said she hopes those getting their inoculations will stop by to get their “carry-catures”, seeing that it is a historical moment in their life.
“They are now ‘carrying’ the vaccine.”
Setia Spice Convention Centre is also sponsoring the artists’ equipment and booths for them to earn as much as they can, leveraging foot traffic, which ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 people daily.
The centre’s head, Roslan Omar, promised to continue the programme until the end of the vaccination drive.
“I think this centre is probably the most art-oriented centre in Malaysia,” he said.
Roslan said that the centre, which only administers the AstraZeneca vaccine, has finished dispensing the first dose.
More doses will arrive from Selangor next month, and are due to be given at the Setia Spice Convention Centre.
This will increase the number of vaccines given per day from 5,000 to 7,000. – The Vibes, September 1, 2021
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