Cats roam around the office of Irfan Karabulut in Hung Hom, where he hosts mosaic lamp and coffee workshops. The cats grow curious, sniffling the Turkish delights on the table as Irfan stirs the metallic cups on hot sand, heating the coffee within and causing it to bubble and burn.

Originally from Cappadocia, Irfan came to Hong Kong four years ago to start his business, DUA Organic, based in Hung Hom. As a writer, a psychologist, and a cat lover, he is a man of many hats. He frequently hosts cultural experiences for both locals and travellers, such as craft making and food tasting, to make good memories, which he believes are the key to curing loneliness in the city.

His workshops have been increasingly popular over the years. He believes people want to make memories for themselves which is the best mechanism to combat negative emotions. “Over 200,000 Hong Kong people came to our showroom,” Irfan says. “I looked at the seven million people. Apart from the crowdedness and elegance, there is also sadness.”

In his seventh poem book, Year of Sorrow, Irfan wrote a poem dedicated to Hong Kong. While reading the poem, Irfan questions, “Do I keep interacting with Hong Kong, or do I need to distance myself like everyone else?”

“But I decided, let’s ‘burn’ my hand. That's why I stayed here to contribute to society, so I can open people’s hearts,” he adds.

In his workshops, he tries to break the boundaries between locals and foreigners, creating a space to celebrate diversity. “When we are mixing Turkish coffee, it means like we are giving energy, sharing it with the guests,” Irfan says. Cats give in to this spirit, messing around with decorative beads during a workshop, Irfan thinks they are miraculous creatures that can heal us. “They heal and give positive and natural energy,” he says.

Not only do the cats lighten up the workshops, but Irfan’s seven-year-old daughter, Selma Karabulut, also brings joy to the room. Passionate about craft and storytelling like his dad, she is wise about time and the need to make use of it to create memorable achievements.

Her best achievement is winning a Taekwondo competition, but she recognises what might be happiness to her might be different to others and is considerate towards that. “My name is about making people happy,” she says.

Sipping a cup of Turkish coffee and pairing it with a sweet pistachio bite is a fine way to use time. Irfan’s DUA Organic offers a wide range of arts and food workshops, including stained glass and ceramic painting, and Turkiye deluxe breakfast tasting.

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