Erdogan Mourns: İlhan Şeşen’s Death Saddens the Turkish Art Community

Renowned Turkish Artist İlhan Şeşen Dies at Age 77

Renowned Turkish artist İlhan Şeşen passed away on Monday at the age of 77, after a long battle with cancer.

According to Turkish media reports, his health had significantly deteriorated in recent weeks. Doctors stated that all available treatments had been exhausted and that his condition had reached a critical stage.

President Erdoğan Mourns İlhan Şeşen

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed deep sorrow over Şeşen’s passing, describing him as “one of the pillars of Turkish art.”The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism also extended its condolences to his family and fans, praising his significant contributions to the country’s cultural and artistic landscape.

Many prominent Turkish artists also mourned the late artist, emphasizing that his career was inspiring and that his legacy will remain deeply rooted in the memory of Turkish art.

A Distinguished Artistic Journey

İlhan Şeşen was born on June 18, 1948, in the city of Manisa, Turkey. He began his artistic journey in 1968, performing with music groups specializing in dance music. In 1971, he released his first solo song, Kavga ("The Fight").

Despite graduating from law school and working as a university lecturer for ten years, Şeşen decided to leave academia and fully dedicate himself to art. In 1983, he co-founded the band Gündoğarken with his nephews, which later became one of Turkey’s most prominent musical groups.

Throughout his career, Şeşen released many successful albums, including:

Aşk Haklı (1994)

Neler Oluyor Bize? (2001)

Şimdi Ben Bu Şarkıları Kime Söyleyeyim? (2003)

He also wrote and composed several popular songs, including Rüzgar, which was performed by singer Leman Sam.

Şeşen’s talents extended beyond music; he also appeared in many well-received Turkish TV dramas, including:

Mühürlü Güller (2003)

Aliye (2004)

Annem (2007)

Hayatımın Rolü (2012)

Paramparça (2015)

With İlhan Şeşen’s passing, the Turkish art scene loses one of its most iconic figures — a man whose rich artistic legacy will live on in the hearts of future generations.