Sedat Girgin: Illustrator–Turkey

A young artist, Sedat Girgin has been a very welcomed new name in the field of book illustration in Turkey since his first published work, Where Did the Baby Bear Lose His Sleep? (2006). He has developed a unique style of his own at an early stage of his career. Born in Istanbul in 1985, Sedat Girgin graduated from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Department of Industrial Design. So far, he has illustrated more than eighty books for many publishing houses, and he has worked as a freelance illustrator for several magazines and digital agencies. Girgin opened his first solo exhibition, Hayretler Sirki (Circus of Wonders), in 2013. He has also been making the cover illustrations for The Guide Istanbul since 2014.

In 2007, the book Girgin illustrated in collaboration with author Suna Dölek, titled Karıncanın Kardeşi (Ant's Brother), received the third prize at Tudem's Book-Making Competition, and it was translated into German. His design "Hot Vespa" received the first place award at the Art Vespa Competition in 2010. The book he illustrated in collaboration with author Tülin Koziko lu, titled Tembel Balık Sefa (Sefa, The Lazy Fish), has recently been selected for the 2015 White Ravens Catalog by In ternationale Jugendbibliothek. Moreover, Girgin's distinctive children's books illustrations have been exhibited at The Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB). He has participated in many national and international group exhibitions, organized workshops, attended seminars, and been invited to selection committees.

Although Girgin illustrates books and magazines for all ages, he is known mostly for his children's book illustrations. It is no exaggeration to say that Sedat Girgin's illustrations have added a new dimension to children's books in Turkey. They have added an extra area for the child to expand his or her imagination—the very aspect that is essential in children's literature. Along with many books by prominent Turkish authors, Sedat Girgin has illustrated books by various world-wide known authors (i.e., Goethe, Carlo Collodi, G. Rodari, Susanna Tamaro, and Ted Hughes).

Girgin describes what he wants to achieve with his work in the following way:

At first, I read the book. The book describes such a world that I refrain from drawing. It's obvious that what I visualize would not be the same with another reader's visualization. So, I'm trying to add on something to the story. I'd like to illustrate in a way that won't give the child a clear understanding. They should pick a detail from my illustrations which will support their imaginary world. Illustrators mostly tend to depict the story directly in their drawings, and I think it is not the correct way. Showing a detail will both support their imagination and set them free in visualizing.