Tūtū is my safe place

Afternoon Chai provides viewers with a sanctuary of pure stillness and soft light.Ezgi Iraz depicts a rare moment of personal ritual as a woman sits peacefully, wrapped in quiet reflection, gently petting her companion cat.  Through observing the everyday rhythms of rest and connection, Iraz emphasizes how rare and important those quiet afternoons are. An Ottoman-style coffee table with a traditional Turkish chai (çay) set sits in front of her, while a banana plant and an archway opening to a deep blue expanse frame the background. This composition explores themes of rest, ritual, and self-preservation. The narrative reminds us to honor the body's need for stillness in a world that demands constant productivity, celebrating the sacred act of pausing and finding peace in everyday life. The work draws on Islamic art, local life, and Ezgi Iraz's diasporic narrative, navigating the complexities of belonging, longing, and cultural memory through her personal lens as a guest artist who questions her place within the diaspora by fusing Ottoman Turkish influences with the universal language of rest. The painting frames rest as a radical act, encouraging women to reclaim stillness as a source of strength against capitalist hustle culture. Clients can see the Original Painting at the Downtown Art Center, Oʻahu. Here you can see all the precuts related with Tutu is my safe space.