The Art of Being Yourself with Tûba Büyüküstün
We enjoy authenticity with Tuba Büyüküstün. She has a warmth we’ve never seen in anybody. This neither smothering in an expected way nor lets you stay away. Her honesty and ability to shed herself of all individual worry is at the heart of our quest for freedom. With each limitation, she takes more control of her freedom. Tuba defines freedom as the “art of being yourself” and adds, “And that’s what I’m after.” We cannot wait to lift the curtain and to meet Tuba Büyüküstün. Come and join us!
How did you feel when you found yourself in front of a camera for the first time?
It was a very familiar feeling. I don’t know why, I had to feel nervous or inexperienced but I felt excited as if I just saw someone I hadn’t seen in a long time.
How does being educated in stage décor and costume design affect your comfort zone on the set?
It helped me become an actress who’s looking for a harmony between dramaturgy, the character, and the elements surrounding it such as décor, costume, hair and makeup.
Hat: CHANEL, Sweater: STELLA JEAN / VAKKO, Skirt: BURBERRY
Everything gains meaning with its opposite. Light would be meaningless without dark. Immobility would not exist withut movement. Life and being human is a dance of conflicts!
How does your background in fine arts affect your perspective in life?
I studied fine arts but it’s more like a mode of existence for me. Since a time and a place I don’t know. That’s probably why I chose to study art.
Shirt: NINA RICCI / ALI ALTA MODA, Trousers: PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI/ALİ ALTA MODA, HeadBand: GUCCI / İSTİNYE PARK, Broche: CHANEL, Gloves: EDITORS OWN
Tuba Büyüküstün is described as “snob, cool and distant” in many places. How do you interpret this impression you leave on people?
It’s not new to me. I’ve always been perceived that way since middle school, high school and college. We all have our perception of others. It’s okay and normal. There are also different ones. It’d be boring to be perceived in one way.
Dress: OZGUR MASUR / GIZIA GATE, Belts: ORCIANI / VAKKO, Hat: FABIANA FILIPPI / VAKKO, Vintage Brouche: EDITOR’S OWN
Do you care what people say about you?
Over time, I learned when to care or not to care what people say about me.
What’s the motivation behind taking up painting?
It’s not something I need to feel motivated to do it. It’s been my favorite thing forever. There are some periods I have to take a break from it for some reasons, which coincide with the times I feel like missing something the most.
Before we know our self-worth, we are forced to feel the need to know our close acquaintances and social values. Then we take them as our own values. A huge devastation begins when we realise those values are not ours but taught to us. But destruction is good. More so if it’s for a beginning that feels closer to ourselves.
Whose paintings do you admire?
For me, Klimt and Frida have a special place. I’m deeply impressed by the emotions in their paintings. It’s very special.
Are you interested in being a collector?
I’ve been collecting things since I was a kid. I started with cute eraser and pencil waste in the first grade. Now I have a small collection of paintings.
Dress: RICK OWENS / V2K DESIGNERS, Shoes: GUCCI / İSTİNYE PARK, Tights: CALZEDONIA, Pearls: EDITOR’S OWN
While most people would describe living with conflicts as tiresome, you emphasize that you feed on it. How do you interpret conflict?
Everything gains meaning with its opposite. Light would be meaningless without dark. Immobility would not exist without movement. Life and being human is a dance of conflicts!
Hat: CHANEL, Sweater: STELLA JEAN / VAKKO, Skirt: BURBERRY
Does this approach lead to sudden mood swings?
I have mood swings but I don’t know if they are sudden or nor. Or is it really about me believing that we harbor these conflicts in our personalities? Wouldn’t I be having mood swings even if I didn’t believe that?
Turtle-neck Sweater:EMILIO PUCCI / ALI ALTA MODA, Skirt: OZGUR MASUR COUTURE Cape: M.O.F.C, Gloves: EDITOR’S OWN
Are you afraid of making mistakes?
A lot but I make them anyway.
Can we say you’re being candid with yourself?
I try to live my life being as candid as I can to myself. Otherwise, what does living mean? One of the things I fear the most is to say “I never meant to do that” at the end of my life.
How involved are you in social media?
Not that much. But one thing interests me. When you don’t use social media as often or as proper as some people demand, they put you through psychological violence. And social media is a place we see one of the fiercest psychological violence in these times.
High-neck Top: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN / HARVEY NICHOLS, Jacket & Waist-Coat: LANVIN / HARVEY NICHOLS, Skirt: DICE KAYEK, Boots: Y’S / SHOPI GO
This ill temper seen on a platform which was born from the idea that people should be more comfortable and open with each other, which of humanity’s deficiencies do you think it reflects?
I think it’s the sense of inadequacy and lack of self-worth. Not being able to be seen or heard by others. A cry that says, “I exist, see me, hear me.” But didn’t it all begin so that we can keep in touch with people we haven’t seen in a while or people we cannot often communicate but want to keep in our lives? And to share…
How would you define the spiritual and physical challenge brought along by acting?
For me, acting doesn’t mean a challenge. It’s more of an acceptance. Accepting a character, a life, a life story into your existence, understanding it and adopting it. The rest just happens without me.
Coat: DICE KAYEK
Which features does a character need to have for you to be interested in it?
Characters gain meaning in a story. In addition to a character that coherently fits the story, I’d also be interested in unfamiliar character, someone I haven’t experienced yet.
When you’re being honest with yourself, which state of emotion makes you uncomfortable?
I wouldn’t be an artist if I could easily talk about my frailties with others. I express them to you through my paintings, essays and characters.
Cape: OZGUR MASUR COUTURE, Bone / Bonnet: MERVE BAYINDIR
What would you like to say about how your perfectionism affects your social and professional life?
It captures me in my professional life. I completely give up on something if I don’t think it’s going to be perfect. It paralyzes me. And I suffer when I see a deficiency or a flaw in something I’ve made.
You have a strong personality and high self-worth. How does it affect your daily life? Does it make everything easier or harder?
Before we know our self-worth, we are forced to feel we first need to know our close acquaintances and social values. Then we take them as our own values. A huge devastation begins when we realize those values are not ours but taught to us. But destruction is good. More so if it’s for a beginning that feels closer to ourselves.
To watch Atypical w/ Tuba Büyüküstün click here.
Interview by DUYGU BENGİ
Fashion by BURAK SANUK
Photography by ZEYNEP ÖZKANCA
Hair & MUA ÖNDER TİRYAKİ