Lat – Still a Simple Man from Malaysia.
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Lat – Still a Simple Man from Malaysia
Having first published his cartoons at a tender age of 13, Lat’s inimitable style, wit and perceptive insights have won many fans across race, language and culture. Throughout the span of his six-decade-long career, he has managed to record his own life and the life of many who struggled with changes that come from moving from rural to urban life and the memories of Malaysia and the world.
Facilitated by Lim Cheng Tju, this sharing will also consider Lat’s cartoons from a global comics history perspective, especially within the genre of autobiographical comics.
Mohammad Nor Khalid, also known as Lat, is Malaysia’s foremost cartoonist, celebrated for his well-known work, The Kampung Boy. With over 20 published cartoon volumes to his name, Lat was honoured with the title of Datuk by the Sultan of Perak in 1994, acknowledging his role in fostering social harmony and understanding through his artwork. In July 2023, the Rumah Lat Gallery in Batu Gajah, Perak, was inaugurated to showcase the works and archives of this renowned Malaysian cartoonist.
Lim Cheng Tju writes about history and popular culture. He is the Singapore country editor for the International Journal of Comic Art and his latest book is Drawn to Satire: Sketches of Cartoonists in Singapore, a comic book about comic artists.