SELİN UĞUR FİDANCIILLUMINATION & MINIATURE ART
Inspired by tradition

The light of gold,
the story of colour.

From the delicate patterns of illumination to the imaginative world of miniature painting: an artistic journey shaped by patience.

EXPLORE THE WORLD OF ART ↗
Detail of Selin Uğur Fidancı’s ornamental bird composition from the illumination galleryFROM THE ILLUMINATION GALLERY · BIRD COMPOSITION ↗
SELİN UĞUR FİDANCI — ART PORTFOLIOA DELICATE LINE, AN ENDLESS WORLD
“A journey bringing the elegance of traditional arts to life through the language of colour…”
Two arts, a shared delicacy

Rhythm in patterns.
Imagination in stories.

Two distinct languages of traditional book arts: harmony created in gold and stories told through colour.

01 / WITHIN THE STORY

Miniature painting

What is miniature painting?

Miniature painting is the art of finely detailed, colourful images traditionally found in manuscripts and albums. Events, people, architecture and nature are depicted with intricate detail. Rather than the single-point perspective and light and shade of Western painting, it uses a distinctive spatial arrangement that reveals the scene as a whole.

A brief history

The roots of Turkish miniature painting include Uyghur painting. This heritage developed in Turkish-Islamic manuscript illustration during the Seljuk period and gained a distinctive expression in Ottoman painting workshops. It was enriched by Matrakçı Nasuh and Nakkaş Osman in the 16th century and found a new expression in the work of Levnî in the 18th century.

Source: Turkish Culture Portal · Miniature Art ↗ TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam ↗
Framed miniature painting
Framed miniature painting
Rocks and delicate brushwork in a miniature painting
Nature and delicate brushwork
Figurative miniature painting in progress
A composition taking shape
Selected works

Miniature gallery

Çanakkale
Çanakkale
Hû Mevlana
Hû Mevlana
Bâb-ı Esrar · The Gate of Mysteries
Bâb-ı Esrar · The Gate of Mysteries
The Seven Counsels of Rumi
The Seven Counsels of Rumi
Masnavi
Masnavi
Turkish Delight Workshop
Turkish Delight Workshop
I Burned with Love
I Burned with Love
Dragon and bird composition
Dragon and bird composition
Manas series

Tracing an epic

The Birth of Manas
The Birth of Manas
Manas’s Fight with Chinese and Kalmyk Children
Manas’s Fight with Chinese and Kalmyk Children
Manas Leaves His Family for His Education
Manas Leaves His Family for His Education
The Education of Manas
The Education of Manas
The Wedding of Manas
The Wedding of Manas
Manas’s Battle with the Elephant and the Dragon
Manas’s Battle with the Elephant and the Dragon
02 / FOLLOWING THE GOLD

The art of illumination

What is illumination?

Tezhip is the art of decorating manuscripts and calligraphic panels with gold and coloured pigments. Its name means “gilding”. Stylised flowers, leaves and rumi motifs come together through delicate lines and balanced compositions.

A brief history

Drawing on the decorative heritage of Central Asia, Turkish illumination developed in Anatolia under the Seljuks. It matured in Ottoman court workshops and gained distinctive styles through artists such as Şahkulu and Kara Memi in the 16th century. In later centuries, it diversified with changing approaches to floral and decorative design.

Source: TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam · Illumination ↗
Selected works

Illumination gallery

Original manuscript opening-page design
Original manuscript opening-page design
Illumination framing calligraphy
Illumination framing calligraphy
Waw composition
Waw composition
Tulip and whirling dervish composition
Tulip and whirling dervish composition
Circular whirling dervish composition
Circular whirling dervish composition
Ornamental bird composition
Ornamental bird composition
Floral ornament with a star centre
Floral ornament with a star centre
Gold and blue flowers on navy
Gold and blue flowers on navy
Circular floral ornament
Circular floral ornament
Sailboat composition
Sailboat composition
Blue floral ornament
Blue floral ornament
Artist

Selin Uğur
Fidancı

2011 — Graduated from the Illumination programme in the Department of Traditional Turkish Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Dokuz Eylül University.

2012 — Earned a Pedagogical Formation Certificate from the Buca Faculty of Education, Dokuz Eylül University.

2013–2020 — Taught illumination and miniature painting at the İzmir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye.

2018 — Received a certificate for the Public Education Centre Teacher and Master Instructor Orientation Course from the İzmir Provincial Directorate of National Education.

2024 — Completed her master’s degree in Illumination in the Department of Traditional Turkish Arts, Institute of Fine Arts, Dokuz Eylül University.

She has presented her work in solo, national and international exhibitions, and organised exhibitions for her students at the institution where she taught.

EXPLORE THE ARTS ↗
Contact

A conversation
inspired by art.

Visit her Instagram account and YouTube channel to explore her artworks and creative process.