Übüleşme

(Ubu Roi)
Poster
2025

An illustrative poster design capturing the buffoonery and mysticism of Übüleşme—a bold adaptation of Ubu Roi by Alfred Jarry

Ubu Roi is one of the earliest examples of absurdist theater. In this adaptation, director Fatih Pazvantoğlu embraces buffoon theater as the staging method.

Three performers embody King Übü, recounting his tyrannical rule while satirizing the dictators of our own time.
A fusion of Shakespeare’s drama and Jarry’s irreverence—both timeless and timely.

Before starting the design process, I had to do a deep dive into research. During my research, I discovered that Ubu Roi is a satirical take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. And it’s been reimagined and reinterpreted by various artists throughout history, such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, and Max Ernst.

This discovery inspired me to depict our trio of storytellers by the fire performing the Balkan tradition of  “Koleda” as a nod to the iconic "three witches”.

For the visual representation of Übü, I drew inspiration from the original 1896 premiere poster of the play.
Heart-shaped eyes and nose, a leafy mustache with a turning spiral

For the type design, I created a handwritten type to fit into the crown-shaped frame.