A RARE book cataloguing old cartoons depicting Bahrain through the eyes of a British illustrator and writer known as the ‘Godfather of the advertising agencies’ in the 1970s has been uncovered by a Bahraini social worker in his library.
The book, Lewis Looks, was penned by Lewis Morland 48 years ago and included 54 colourful cartoons once featured in the popular English-language newspaper in Bahrain at the time – The Gulf Weekly Mirror.
Hussain Madan, former Jurdab Charity Society president and social worker, told the GDN that Mr Morland presented him with the book in 1978 after the pair developed a professional friendship working in the same field of public relations and marketing.
He described it as a ‘national treasure’.
“The cartoons in this book highlight Bahrain in the early 1970s and it combines that with a sense of humour which is incredible,” Mr Madan said.
“That is why I felt I should do something to promote this book once I found it again. Such cartoons about the history, civilisation and traditions of Bahrain and understanding such topics is very important for our future generations.
“The actions of the individuals who lived in Bahrain in those days have left a lasting impression.”
Mr Madan added that his Cockney acquaintance, who was born in 1920 in the East End of London – was a production and art editor at some of the UK’s top newspapers before ‘Bahrain tempted him to set up on the island’.
He began political cartooning and has contributed to numerous other art works and later published a book called Bahrain Laughs – Lewis Cartoons from the Gulf Daily News.
“There can be few people whose perception of the world they live in is as wry and incisive as that of Lewis Morland,” the GDN’s former Editor-in-Chief Clive Jacques said in the later 1985 publication.
“Fortunately for others, he has the unique gift of being able to infuse that insight with a rare mixture of humour. His weekly cartoons for the Gulf Daily News highlight the trivial with the tragic, amusing and arousing and packed with detail in an art-form executed with sincerity.”
Al Hilal Group managing director Ronnie Middleton said he remembers him well and also keeps treasured copies of his books.
“What was special about Lewis’ cartoons was that he would draw into them personalities of the time,” he explained, “whether it was a hotel manager or journalist.
“He ran what was the first advertising agency in Bahrain called Awal Advertising and could effectively be called ‘The Godfather’ of Bahrain’s nascent advertising industry in the ’70s. He was married with one daughter, Wendy, who left Bahrain in the late 1990s.”
Mr Madan’s research also revealed that the celebrated cartoonist and artist designed 12 unique stamps for the Bahrain government when the postal service became independent in 1966.
He also produced the first book of cartoons to be published in the GCC, in addition to painting the first formal portrait of Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the late ruler (1894-1961).
“A cartoonist’s job is hard because what we take 30 seconds to enjoy is the result of long hours of thought, creativity and labour,” added Mr Madan.
reem@gdn.com.bh
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