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A 3D render of a surreal, bioluminescent landscape. Glowing, doughnut-shaped forms in blue, green and orange float amidst twisting organic vines and iridescent bubbles.

Princess Hıdır’s sci-fi inspired illustrations will take you to a whole new world

Quitting her job in an advertising agency to pursue freelance illustration, the Istanbul-based creative uses their unearthly depictions to image a new, more harmonious existence.

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Date
21 September 2022

It’s the universe’s biggest questions that have always fascinated illustrator Princess Hıdır. Since childhood she’s been obsessed with all things sci-fi: “I remember the books I've read and the documentaries I’ve watched with both fear and wonder,” an obsession that now primarily informs her practice. With their luminescent colours and unearthly settings, Hıdır tells us that they love to create their very own universes, where “my characters are genderless, living together in harmony”.

Originally, Hıdır for a degree in graphic design, a fact that has likely helped their hyper-digital practice, and use of Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. But, there is one tool that really helps Hıdır get in the creative zone – music. Listening to a wide array of artists while she works, Hıdır collaborates with musicians. For example, take a look at their recent collaboration with producer Ozoyo, Hıdır generated a whole animated underwater dream land to perfectly match his glitchy, other-worldly beats.

A 3D render of a surreal, alien landscape in glowing shades of blue, purple and green. A small, luminous figure sits cross-legged atop a towering, tiered fungal structure.
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Princess Hidir: Ozoyo - Hello Planta Single Artwork (Copyright © Threefinger Records, 2022)

A 3D render of a surreal, alien landscape in glowing greens and oranges. A central, ribbed plant structure is topped with bulbous, luminous pods and surrounded by drooping, willow-like vines.
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Princess Hidir: Ozoyo - Planta Dance Single Artwork (Copyright © Threefinger Records, 2022)

A 3D render of a surreal, cosmic landscape filled with floating, organic blue and green shapes. A glowing green sun radiates light from the top left, casting deep shadows across the grainy, iridescent scene.
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Princess Hidir: Ozoyo - Panspermia Single Artwork (Copyright © Threefinger Records, 2021)

A 3D render of a surreal, bioluminescent creature in deep purple and teal tones. The figure has a wide, smiling mouth and glowing pink accents, floating above a cluster of crystalline shards.
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Princess Hidir: Mother of Corals (Copyright © Princess Hidir, 2020)

A 3D render of a surreal alien landscape under a dark, starry sky. Glowing, twisted organic forms in purple and green rise from a shimmering iridescent ground, with a large dark planet hanging above.
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Princess Hidir: Distant Lands (Copyright © Princess Hidir, 2021)

A 3D render of a surreal, alien landscape in shades of neon green, yellow and turquoise. Organic, fluid structures rise from the ground like bioluminescent plants under a glowing yellow sun.
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Princess Hidir: Ozoyo - Emerging Plantas Artwork (Copyright © Threefinger Records, 2022)

A digital illustration of a surreal, bioluminescent creature in a dark underwater scene. The creature has a wide, flat head with large eyes and long, beaded tentacles that curve upwards and downwards.
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Princess Hidir: The Monster Project (Copyright © Princess Hidir, 2021)

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Princess Hidir: Ozoyo - Planta Dialogues Artwork (Copyright © Threefinger Records, 2022)

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About the Author

Olivia Hingley

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Olivia (she/her) is associate editor of the website, overseeing the day-to-day editorial projects as well as Nicer Tuesdays events. She joined the It’s Nice That team in 2021. ofh@itsnicethat.com

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