“This is much more than an annual tradition. Newspaper cartoonists are coming under growing pressure, and freedom of expression is being increasingly restricted in different parts of the world. This is a symbol of what we have, what we can’t take for granted, and what we must protect,” said Mr Gharahkhani at the opening of the exhibition in the Storting’s Central Hall on 18^th March.

President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani took part in the unveiling of the ten new political cartoons which will be on display in the Storting. Photo: Peter Mydske/Storting

– Part of our political culture

The Storting has a large collection of political cartoons, dating all the way back to the dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905. In 2021, the Storting and the Norwegian Cartoonist Gallery agreed to put on an annual exhibition of ten such cartoons from the year just gone.

The cartoons will hang in the corridor outside the Storting restaurant.

“The selection of this year’s cartoons has been both difficult and fun,” said Tage Pettersen (Conservative Party), the current chair of the Storting’s Art Committee.

“Satire is designed to challenge, and these cartoons certainly do that. We’re really fortunate in Norway to have so many talented and courageous cartoonists. Newspaper cartoons are an integral part of Norwegian political culture; something we simply must protect,” he continued.

New cartoons every year

Mr Pettersen said that the Storting is the only institution in Norway which makes an active decision to purchase satirical cartoons on an annual basis.

“We are continuing to build up our collection of new cartoons every year. This is an important way to document our political history,” he said.

The cartoon «State visit» by Egil Nyhus was published in Politisk analyse, and now forms part of the exhibition in the Storting. Illustration: Egil Nyhus 

This year’s cartoonists are:

• Tor Bomann-Larsen, Morgenbladet
• Marvin Halleraker, Aftenposten
• Viktor G. Khoury, Subjekt
• Siri Dokken, Dagsavisen
• Emil J. Ellefsen, EXLEX
• Ingunn Wiken, Hallingdølen
• Frida Strømme, Bergens Tidende
• Roar Hagen, VG
• Finn Graff, Dagbladet
• Egil Nyhus, Politisk Analyse

Members of the public will be able to see the cartoons during the public art tours (Norwegian only) on Mondays at 18.00. The cartoons can also be viewed in the Storting’s media archive.