It is a picture of a princess leaning towards a frog to kiss and convert it into a prince. However, contrary to the fairy tale turn, the frog is disinterested because it has its ‘own issues to deal with’ — the issues being climate change, water pollution, invasive species and chytridiomycosis. This image is part of the display at Goethe Zentrum lending a funny break to visitors at Goethe Zentrum. Interestingly, the piece is also one of the favourite works of its creator Rohan Chakravarty. “When one talks of wildlife conservation, the focus is on tiger and elephants. The lesser known creatures are hardly spoken about. It is also a difficult task to bring people’s attention to something which is not so attractive. The frog plays an important role in keeping the environment in place and is a prime indicator of climate change,” points out Rohan of Green Humour.com, who draws cartoons and illustrations on wild animals, wildlife, environment and nature conservation.
The exhibition titled ‘Pugmarks and Carbon Footprints’ showcases cartoons on sustainability and conservation. The creative figures staring at you from the walls raise important issues like conservation, climate change, benefits of sustainable design, carbon footprints and rising sea level. These cartoon strips have been published in different media including newspapers and wildlife magazines.
Large eyes and an exaggerated nose would elicit a smile from anyone; and Rohan'’s funny lines bring out a message. In one of the cartoons, a frog is mistaken to be a toad and it says: “ I am a frog affected by chemical pollution .” Another strip shows two leopards in the middle of a busy road and one says to the other: “ These highway dividers are wider and less fragmented than our national parks. I am moving my territory here.”
Rohan recalls how he transformed from a dentist into a cartoonist. “I would have been a terrible dentist,” he laughs and adds, “I was frustrated and looking for an escape. I was a volunteer for one of the wildlife activities and my dormant interest in wildlife surfaced. I loved drawing too and so two interests merged,” he says. His cartoons and illustrations reflect on two aspects. “In one part, the comics portray deforestation, habitat in wildlife, conservation and climate change and the other brings out the animal behaviour and facts about animals,” he states. A significant feature of Rohan’s works is that there is no repetition. “I never repeat characters, so readers keep guessing what is going to appear. It is a challenge to constantly draw something new,” he observes.
Rohan, who lives in Nagpur, feels it is one of the few cities in India which still remains green. “Everyday I go for a walk and there is a pair of owls roosting in the wild which even recognises me,” he smiles. Currently, Rohan is working on wildlife maps and a book illustrating biodiversity.
The exhibition is on till April 30.
