In recognition of his significant contributions to the arts, the world-famous Iranian cartoonist and graphic artist Kambiz Derambakhsh was conferred the Chevalier of Arts and Letters on Sunday (Oct. 26) at the embassy of France in Iran.
Derambakhsh was decorated with the Order of Arts and Letters, the highest cultural honor in France. The medal was presented to Derambakhsh by the French ambassador to Iran Bruno Fuscher.
A number of cultural and art figures including veteran author Mahmoud Dowlatabadi attended the ceremony.
Derambakhsh is the first Iranian artist in the field of visual arts to have ever received this medal which is one of the most prestigious in the realm of arts.
Born in 1942 in Shiraz, Derambakhsh is known for his talent to find obscure themes for his creations and has received many awards at international competitions, including the grand prize of Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun competition in 1998. He was also awarded in international contests held in Switzerland, Turkey, Brazil, Germany, Yugoslavia and Italy, and honored during the closing ceremony of the 25th edition of the Aydin Dogan International Cartoon Competition in Istanbul in 2008. He has also been called upon to judge many contests across the globe.
Prolific Works
The works of the prolific artist have been exhibited in numerous galleries and accredited museums in many different countries, such as Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts, Basel Museum of Caricatures, Hiroshima Museum of Japan, Anti-War Museum of Yugoslavia, Istanbul Museum of Cartoons, and the Warsaw Museum of Caricatures. His works were also showcased at the Modern Art Museum and the Nicolas Flamel Gallery in France as well as the Frankfurt Municipality Hall in Germany.
He has written and compiled a number of books, including ‘Without Words’ published in Iran, and ‘Kambiz’ published in Italy. In 2013, the Michel Lafon Publishing house in France released a selection of works by Derambakhsh over the past 35 years in the form of a book.
The Order of Arts and Letters has also been given to a number of other distinguished Iranians for their works in different fields, including traditional music maestros Shahram Nazeri and Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, world-renowned filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, famous actress Leila Hatami, poet Mohammad-Ali Sepanlou, mythologist Jalal Satari, theatre director Pari Saberi, and scientist/researcher Mahmoud Hessaby.
