Turkish artist Turhan Selçuk has passed away on March 11. And, no, I had no idea who he was until I heard he had been hospitalized. But a lot of toonpool.com’s Turkish members seem to care about him and so it’s only right to mention him here. Mr. Selçuk has been an advocate for human rights all his life, which isn’t the easiest thing to do in a country with an authoritarian tradition such as Turkey’s. Throughout his life he suffered various acts of repressions, including torture and arrest. There is a collection dedicated to his memory, which includes contributions by several toonpool.com members.
Here are a couple of portraits I liked: a simple line drawing by Mustafa Bora, a portrait in Oguz Gurel’s own distinctive style, a surrealistic approach by Firuz Kutal and a grieving Abdül Canbaz, Selçuk’s trademark character. Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet has run some photos from the funeral service, click here to see them.
Introducing…
Greek artist Elias Tabeakas, AKA etc. made a great start here at toonpol.com. Three of the five vector style cartoons he’s uploaded so far are instant classics. There’s the “fundamentalist transvestite” (presumably from transsexual Transjordan), there’s a mammoth’s pink fantasies, and, of course, “parallel evolution”. I am not too fond of “evolution cartoons” since they always seem to end up with a statement of degeneration. But this one is so beautifully drawn.. and I’m sure that H.P. Lovecraft would rejoice if he could see it.
Cartoons of Interest
This week’s favourite is “Ace Trampoline Co.” by Mark Lynch. What can I say.. it’s about trampolines – those bouncy death traps. You just gotta love it.
I also liked this quiet, yet glamourous cartoon by Freimut Wössner. Apart from the gag, I really admire the way he put that pastoral German landscape in the background. Wikipedia tells me he won some kind of environment protection award, maybe that’s why.
Finally there’s the somewhat icky “a dandruff specialist’s office hours” cartoon.
Tags: last week, letzte woche, Turhan Selçuk
Thank you very much for the warm welcome and for your very kind words! I am very happy to have discovered toonpool (quite by accident as I describe in the forum)
So much talent gothered together!… from all around the world!… wow!
I was so exited I immediately informed my colleagues in GreCA (Greek Cartoonists Association)- our professional Cartoonists union in Greece
Especially since we’re thinking of creating something that will reflect how Cartoonists colleagues from all around the world view the present economic crisis (with emphasis the greek deeper crisis). I do not know what will be decided in the end but in any case we will probably need your invaluable input!
I hope in a long happy, fruitful stay here…
My warmest greetings from Athens…
Thank you for the kind words! We’re glad you found us.