There’s something rather lovely about seeing your own artwork hanging on a wall, especially when that wall belongs to a place where people from all over the world come together.

I'm delighted to share that a selection of my cartoons is now on display in the main lobby of the Manchester Marriott V&A. As a Manchester artist and cartoonist, it means a great deal to have my work out in the world, where people can stumble across it, have a little chuckle, perhaps stop and think, and hopefully leave with a smile.

I'm particularly pleased that the exhibition brings together some of my more cheerful, humorous and thought-provoking pieces. My work has always been about finding stories in ordinary things, the little absurdities of modern life, the way we behave, our relationships with technology, our search for happiness and our sometimes rather peculiar relationship with the world around us.

I believe art doesn't always need to be serious to say something meaningful. Sometimes, a few simple lines and a little humour can get us thinking more effectively than a thousand words.

A little humour, a little reflection

I've selected a range of cartoons for the Marriott V&A, each with its own personality and story to tell.

Happiness Is You and In Pursuit of Happiness explore our search for joy, while We Are All the Same Inside reflects on the things that connect us, regardless of how different we may appear on the outside.

Then there's The Modern Thinker, my playful take on our relationship with smartphones and technology. We live in a world where we're constantly connected, yet sometimes seem to have less time to think, talk or simply be present.

Some of my other pieces take a more thoughtful turn. Global Warming reflects my concerns about our changing climate, while Peace Not Pieces explores the idea of peace in a world that often seems determined to pull itself apart. Lonely Banana Peel finds a little character and meaning in an object most of us would walk straight past.

And because I'm a Manchester artist, I couldn't resist including Manchester Weather. Anyone who lives here knows that the weather can change its mind more often than the rest of us change our socks!

One piece that has already received a lovely response is Modern Romance. After it was installed, a member of Marriott's team told me it was one of her favourite artworks. That sort of reaction means a great deal to me. As artists, we spend so much time creating work in our own little worlds that it's wonderful when something connects with another person.

Thank you to the Marriott V&A team

I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to Kelly Andreasson, General Manager of the Marriott V&A, for welcoming my work and giving it a space in the hotel.

I'm also grateful to Jo Wads from WAM Social, and Thomas Moran and Ella Sheehan from the Marriott's Sales team, for their encouragement, enthusiasm and support.

It's a real pleasure to have my cartoons displayed in a place that welcomes visitors from across the UK and around the world. Hotels are fascinating places because so many different lives briefly cross paths there. Someone might be visiting Manchester for the first time, someone else might be here on business, and another person might simply be enjoying a weekend away.

I'd like to think that, somewhere between checking in and heading out to explore the city, one of my cartoons might give someone a small, unexpected moment of happiness.

For me, that's one of the lovely things about making art. You never quite know who might connect with it or what they might take away from it.

Take a little piece of Manchester home

There's another little part of this exhibition that I'm particularly happy about.

For visitors who would like to take home a memento, selected designs are also available as postcards and greeting cards.

I love the idea of someone visiting Manchester, discovering one of my cartoons in the hotel lobby and deciding to send it to a friend or family member somewhere else in the world. In an age of instant messages and endless scrolling, there's something rather special about sending a physical card with a handwritten note.

It might be a funny postcard to remind someone of their trip, a greeting card to make somebody smile, or simply a small piece of original artwork to share with someone who appreciates a bit of humour.

As a Manchester-based artist, I couldn't ask for a nicer way for my work to travel beyond the city.

If you'd like to explore my cartoons, paintings and illustrations, or enquire about purchasing available artwork, postcards and greeting cards, please visit www.vinayjalla.co.uk. You can also find me on Instagram at @vinay.jalla55.

Art that makes you stop, think and smile

My work spans minimalist line drawing, watercolour, illustration and mixed media. I'm interested in the things we often overlook - the behaviour we take for granted, the objects that quietly become part of our lives and the small contradictions that make being human so entertaining.

Alongside my individual artworks, I continue to develop my TEAL LINES cartoon series, which explores human behaviour, modern life and social observations through simple, accessible visual storytelling.

I've been fortunate to share my work through exhibitions and art platforms in Greater Manchester and further afield. Each opportunity to reach a new audience reminds me why I keep drawing and creating.

This exhibition at the Manchester Marriott V&A feels particularly special because it brings my cartoons into an everyday setting, where people can enjoy them without needing to plan a visit to an art gallery.

So, if you're visiting the Marriott V&A, do take a moment to have a look at the cartoons in the main lobby. I'd love to know which one makes you smile, which one gets you thinking, or which one reminds you of somebody you know.

And if you happen to take one of my postcards home, even better!

After all, I think the world could do with a little more art, a little more laughter and a few more reasons to smile.

See you around Manchester!

Vinay Jalla
Manchester Artist and Cartoonist

Explore TEAL LINES
Instagram: @vinay.jalla55