Exhibitions
Zunar
Exhibitions
ZUNAR'S EXHIBITIONS MILESTONE
My art has been presented around the world. I have been invited to exclusive international events to exhibit my work. I am honoured and humbled by all the trust and love given by the people that believe in what I do.
London
"To Fight Through Cartoon"
DATE: 15th February 2012.
VENUE: Free Word Centre, Farringdon Road, East End, London.
NOTES: It was organized with the support of Article 19, a London-based freedom of expression non-governmental organization (NGO).
"To Fight Through Cartoon" Talk & Showcase
DATE: 25th January 2015.
VENUE: Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust, Stukeley Street, London.
NOTES: This public lecture and cartoon showcase was organized by the Monsoons Book Club. During the session, Zunar shared his political satire and discussed the heavy state oppression he was experiencing under the Sedition Act in Malaysia.
"Malaysia’s Speakers' Corner" Live Pop-Up & Protest
DATE: 18th - 19th February 2015.
VENUE: Trafalgar Square, London.
NOTES: Staged out in the open on the historic steps of Trafalgar Square, Zunar transformed the public square into a live street exhibition. He stood before passing crowds, creating large-scale political drawings in real-time to aggressively protest the corruption and high-profile figures of the ruling Malaysian government. This highly publicized open-air protest run took place over the weekend of his main United Kingdom gallery tour. His route including The protest ends at 10 Downing Street.
"Gillray's Ghost" (Special exhibition featuring selected works by Zunar)
DATE: 4th November 2015.
VENUE: The Cartoon Museum, London.
NOTES: This marked the historic first time Zunar’s artwork was showcased inside an official, dedicated cartoon museum.
"Laughter as a Political Tool"
DATE: 14th - 23rd January 2019.
VENUE: North Cloisters, Wilkins Building, Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), University College London (UCL), London.
NOTES: Zunar additionally delivered a special guest lecture at the university during this exhibition on January 17, 2019.
United States of America
"Free Cartoonist" Protest
DATE: 12th September 2012.
VENUE: Embassy of Malaysia, Washington, D.C., USA.
NOTES: Jointly organized by the Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) and Amnesty International, this 45-minute street protest directly targeted the Malaysian government's use of draconian laws like the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act. Standing outside the embassy gates, Zunar was joined by high-profile international cartoonists, including 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Matt Wuerker, exiled Iranian cartoonist Nik Kowsar, and renowned American cartoonist Jeff Parker, alongside CRNI Executive Director Dr. Robert Russell and Amnesty Coordinator Becky Farrar. The demonstrators used a loudhailer to chant anti-censorship slogans and successfully compelled two unidentified Malaysian embassy officials to come outside to face the assembly.
"To Fight Through Cartoon" Tour
DATE: 22nd January 2014 - 1st February 2014.
VENUE: Center for Asian Democracy, University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
NOTES: This served as the primary venue launching his political cartoon exhibition tour in the United States.
Spain
"To Fight Through Cartoon"
DATE: 7th - 27th November 2011.
VENUE: Mediateka Library, Alhóndiga Bilbao (now renamed Azkuna Zentroa), Bilbao, Spain.
NOTES: The exhibition was organized as part of the Zentsura AT! (Anti-Censorship) Festival. The venue itself is a historic wine warehouse transformed into a prominent culture and leisure center.
Artist-in-Residence Exhibition
DATE: 1st October 2011 - 31st December 2011.
VENUE: Fundación BilbaoArte Fundazioa (BilbaoArte Foundation), Bilbao, Spain.
NOTES: Zunar completed a prestigious three-month international artistic residency funded by the BilbaoArte Foundation and the BBK banking foundation. During this highly successful European tour, he was also honored on November 10, 2011, with the "Courage to Fight Censorship" Award at the VI Festival Against Censorship for using his drawings to actively fight state corruption.
Switzerland
International Editorial Cartoons Exhibition
DATE: 3rd May 2016 - 3rd June 2016.
VENUE: Quai Wilson (Along the banks of Lake Geneva / Lac Léman), Geneva, Switzerland.
NOTES: This open-air public exhibition was launched in celebration of Zunar winning the prestigious 2016 International Editorial Cartoons Prize (Cartooning for Peace Award). It featured 10 massive, large-scale prints of his sharpest political drawings, including works dissecting the 1MDB scandal. The event was officially inaugurated by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The global visibility of the exhibit angered the Malaysian government, which subsequently slapped Zunar with a strict international travel ban.
"Cartoons for Peace"
DATE: April 2017
VENUE: Maison du Dessin de Presse (Museum of Press Cartooning), Morges, Switzerland.
NOTES: Zunar was barred from attending the exhibition opening in person because of the ongoing travel ban imposed by Malaysian authorities. In response, the Swiss organizers proudly ran the exhibition under the defiant slogan: "Zunar cannot leave, but his cartoons travel freely".
"The Art of Dissent" Panel Feature
DATE: 19th January 2017 (during his travel ban) .
VENUE: World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, Davos, Switzerland.
NOTES: While Zunar was barred from traveling abroad by the Malaysian government, his political artwork was projected onto the main screen during a world-class plenary session. Renowned Swiss editorial cartoonist Patrick Chappatte presented Zunar’s work to an audience of over 2,500 elite delegates, including 1,600 state and business leaders, more than 800 global CEOs, and 150 technology innovators. The featured two-panel cartoon juxtaposed Donald Trump and Prime Minister Najib Razak with the sharp caption: "Trump is a billionaire who became President, whereas Najib is a Prime Minister who became a billionaire".
Solidarity Cartoon Display
DATE: November 2016 (during his travel ban).
VENUE: Museum of Ethnography of Geneva (MEG), Geneva, Switzerland.
NOTES: Running parallel to his high-profile street exhibitions, Zunar's cartoons were showcased inside Geneva's premier ethnography museum. This museum installation was put together by the local Swiss community as a dedicated gesture of artistic solidarity against his political persecution in Malaysia.
Norway
"How Can I Be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand" Public Showcase
DATE: October 2017 (during his travel ban).
VENUE: Spikersuppa Square (Situated between Det Norske Teater and MESH) and Munchmuseet (The Munch Museum), Oslo, Norway.
NOTES: Organizers mounted a public exhibition of Zunar's defiant work in the open space at Spikersuppa Square as a profound act of international solidarity. His cartoon installation was paired with a campaign at the Munchmuseet—a museum dedicated to the legendary master painter and expressionist pioneer Edvard Munch, famous for creating The Scream.
Sweden
"Safe Heaven" (International Human Rights Day Special Showcase).
DATE: 10th December 2015.
VENUE: Malmö Stadsbibliotek (Malmö City Library), Malmö, Sweden.
NOTES: This public lecture and exhibition were deliberately scheduled to coincide with International Human Rights Day. Zunar presented his political satire cartoons and detailed the constant intimidation, book bans, and the staggering 43-year prison sentence he faced under Malaysia's colonial-era Sedition Act. He grounded the lecture in his iconic professional philosophy: "How Can I Be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand"!
2nd Annual Sketch Freedom International Cartoon Expo
DATE: January 2015.
VENUE: Gothenburg Film Festival Partnership Venues, Gothenburg, Sweden.
NOTES: Zunar joined an elite group of 28 international cartoonists for a collective exhibition centered on championing freedom of expression. The expo was founded and curated by exiled Iranian cartoonist Kianoush Ramezani. Zunar’s artwork was displayed alongside celebrated global peers like Daryl Cagle and Ann Telnaes (USA), Angel Boligan (Mexico), Bonil (Ecuador), Riber Hansson (Sweden), and Tjeerd Royaards (Netherlands).
Germany
"How Can I Be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand!"
DATE: June 2016 - July 2016.
VENUE: Allianz Forum (near Brandenburg Gate) / Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Office, Berlin, Germany.
NOTES: Organized by Reporters Without Borders and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Zunar transformed his high-profile press conferences into a pop-up artistic showcase. Standing before the German media, German cartoonists, and Amnesty International representatives, he aggressively highlighted his newest satire pieces mocking the 1MDB scandal. Zunar uniquely walked into the Berlin events wearing his iconic purple prison uniform and holding handcuffs high to visually protest the 9 Sedition Act charges he faced at the time. While he has subsequently returned to Berlin for high-level speaking engagements—such as debating free expression alongside anti-apartheid legend Albie Sachs at The World Forum 2026 at the Adlon Hotel—his 2016 run stands as his most prominent physical artwork presentation in the German capital.
Ethiopia
"Cartooning in Africa" Exhibition & World Press Freedom Forum
DATE: 1st - 3rd May 2019.
VENUE: African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
NOTES: Staged inside the high-security international headquarters of the African Union, Zunar's heavy-hitting satirical political drawings were put on display for global leaders, diplomats, and journalists. Invited as a special international guest by UNESCO and Cartooning for Peace, Zunar stood before delegates to share his real-life struggles against Malaysia's Sedition Act. This historic showcase directly contributed to the creation of the landmark "Addis Ababa Declaration," which officially demanded global recognition for political cartooning as a fundamental human right.
Netherlands
"Tekenen in Vrijheid?! / Drawing in Freedom?!" Group Exhibition
DATE: 30th November 2020 – 18th June 2021.
VENUE: Centrale Bibliotheek Den Haag (The Hague Central Library) / Perscentrum Nieuwspoort, The Hague, Netherlands.
NOTES: Organised to commemorate 75 years of freedom in the Netherlands and the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, this high-profile group exhibition brought together work from over 30 leading political cartoonists worldwide. Zunar’s heavy-hitting satirical drawings were prominently showcased alongside fellow global icons like Chappatte, Musa Kart, and Zapiro. The exhibition highlighted the immense censorship, legal challenges, and threats faced by editorial illustrators who push boundaries against authority. Due to the global pandemic, a special interactive online debate and workshop featuring preliminary pre-recorded interviews with Zunar was broadcasted by the library to discuss how political cartooning serves as a vital component of global democracy.
Australia
"Fight Through Cartoons" Pop-Up Showcase & National Tour
DATE: June 2016 (following an initial speaking run in late 2015).
VENUE: Amnesty International Australia Head Office (Sydney), plus mobile pop-up events in Melbourne and Perth, Australia.
NOTES: Organized as a high-profile advocacy tour just months before his severe passport travel ban took effect, Zunar brought his fight for free speech directly to the Australian public. Instead of using a traditional single-gallery layout, Zunar functioned via mobile pop-up displays. He actively showcased his hardest-hitting cartoons—including custom illustrations featuring the iconic Sydney Opera House—to visual arts communities, Australian media, and university forums. Sponsored heavily by human rights watchdogs, the tour was highly effective in generating institutional pushback against his 9 pending Sedition Act charges. This tour directly mobilized over 18,000 Australian citizens to flood Malaysian authorities with formal letters and petitions, a massive wave of grassroots solidarity that eventually helped secure his total acquittal.
France
"Press Cartoons: A State of Affairs" (Le dessin de presse dans tous ses États) Group Exhibition & Colloquium
DATE: 21st September 2015 (with works continuing on display into early 2016).
VENUE: La SCAM (Société Civile des Auteurs Multimédia), Paris, France.
NOTES: Organized by the international network Cartooning for Peace, this high-profile Parisian exhibition featured Zunar’s sharpest editorial works alongside legendary cartoonists like Plantu (France) and Kroll (Belgium). Zunar attended the opening colloquium in Paris physically just months after his home arrest, using the platform to address the French media regarding his 9 pending Sedition Act charges. His showcase gained immense symbolic weight in France, occurring in the wake of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo tragedy; Zunar used his presence to passionately advocate that laughter remains the ultimate weapon against political bigotry and state censorship.
Cambodia
"To Fight Through Cartoon" Mini-Showcase
DATE: 19th June 2013 - 21st June 2013.
VENUE: IFEX Conference Venue, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
NOTES: Zunar hosted this specialized mini-showcase in the Cambodian capital in conjunction with the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) conference. Alongside displaying his sharp satirical drawings, he spoke directly to international human rights delegates about his high-stakes legal battles and the tightening state censorship in Malaysia.
Japan
ASEAN Cartoonists Exhibition
DATE: 27th May 1993 - 13th June 1993.
VENUE: Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.
NOTES: Staged early in his career, this exhibition marked a highly significant milestone as Zunar was officially chosen to represent Malaysia on an international stage. Organised to bring together the finest comic artists and editorial illustrators from across the region, the event allowed Zunar to display his commentary alongside top contemporary Asian creators. Co-founding the Cartoonist Association of Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan (Pekartun) around this period, his participation in Shibuya heavily solidified his transition from a local editorial cartoonist into a globally recognized voice for regional creative collaboration.
Malaysia
Permanent Feature Showcase
DATE: March 2016.
VENUE: Asia Comic Cultural Museum, 2nd Floor, ICT Mall, Komtar, George Town, Penang.
NOTES: Zunar was honored with a large, dedicated exhibition space inside this cultural archive. His biting political commentaries were proudly displayed alongside legendary comic artists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and across Asia.
Penang Literary Festival Exhibition
DATE: 25th November 2016.
VENUE: 3rd Floor, Komtar, George Town, Penang.
NOTES: This public gallery space was violently disrupted when a hostile mob of 30 to 50 pro-government demonstrators (Penang UMNO Youth) stormed the venue, verbally assaulted Zunar, and vandalized his artwork. For safety reasons, the state police shut down the exhibition, confiscated all of Zunar's original drawing panels, and subsequently arrested him under the Sedition Act.
"Ketawa Pink Pink" (Pink-Styled Laughter) - Aborted
DATE: 25th November 2016.
VENUE: Beach Street (Lebuh Pantai), George Town, Penang.
NOTES: Zunar planned to debut an independent, open-air street exhibition featuring 50 new satirical pieces mocking political corruption. However, due to direct physical intimidation, safety threats, and warnings of coordinated political protests at the site, he officially canceled the event a day before its grand opening.
Media Freedom & Political Satire Forum
DATE: December 2018.
VENUE: Penang Institute, Jalan Brown, George Town, Penang.
NOTES: Following the historic collapse of the long-ruling federal government regime in May 2018, Zunar safely returned to Penang to host a combined cartoon gallery and progressive public forum on expanding press freedom.
"The Art of Freedom by Zunar" Solo Exhibition
DATE: May 2019.
VENUE: Penang State Art Gallery (Balai Seni Lukis Negeri), Dewan Sri Penang, George Town, Penang.
NOTES: This stood as his largest and most triumphant official exhibition in the state, displaying a massive retrospective collection of 202 political cartoons documenting Malaysia's modern history. The historic comeback exhibition was officially launched by Prime Minister-in-waiting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"Tea with Zunar" Fan Meeting, Fundraiser & Pop-Up Exhibition
DATE: 17th December 2016.
VENUE: Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
NOTES: Originally planned as an intimate afternoon fundraising event and art showcase for his supporters, the venue was heavily raided by the Malaysia Police before the program could officially commence at 3:00 PM. Authorities completely shut down the exhibition area, arresting Zunar, his assistant, and two event attendees under Section 124(c) of the Penal Code for activities allegedly "detrimental to parliamentary democracy." A massive haul of 1,187 satirical cartoon books and 103 custom T-shirts were confiscated on-site. This dramatic crackdown took place just weeks after Zunar's separate November 2016 exhibition in Penang was violently disrupted by a political mob, making December 2016 one of the most heavily restricted and litigious periods of his creative career in the capital.
Shah Alam Gallery
DATE: 1st September 2012 - 9th September 2012.
VENUE: Galeri Shah Alam, Laman Budaya, Seksyen 14, Shah Alam, Selangor.
NOTES: This exhibition marked a massive milestone as Zunar’s very first official solo gallery exhibition held on Malaysian soil. Before this, local state pressure forced him to exhibit exclusively overseas in cities like London and Bilbao. The historic gallery event showcased a massive timeline of 150 political cartoons drawn between 1999 and 2012, and it was officially inaugurated by the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. This success laid the groundwork for Zunar's future pop-up public street exhibits.