The Way I Work... Laila Gohar
In our series where we look at the things, places and people that inspire a creative’s working life, Marie-Claire Chappet speaks to the artist and chef about everything from her workspace to her creative process
She was famously dubbed – by Drake no less – the ‘Björk of food’. The New York-based Egyptian chef, artist and Financial Times columnist is certainly an explosive creative force; a magnetic auteur making food an art form. She is also the co-founder and creator (along with her sister Nadia) of Gohar World. It’s a line of surrealistic homeware, the perfect accompaniment to her delicious flights of fancy. Here, she tells Service95 about her chaotic desk, her strict work-free weekends and her tendency to get into trouble…
On Her Working Conditions… I work in my studio, which is a 10-minute walk from my apartment in downtown NYC. My desk is extremely chaotic. It’s a very multi-purpose space, but the bits and pieces that end up there serve as a reflection of the exciting things happening in the studio and my life.
On Her Work Uniform… I wear a lot of Simone Rocha. She is a good friend; I like her exaggerated silhouettes. I want to be in things that are roomy and I can move in easily. Being able to transition from day to night, work life to home life is important. For scent, I wear Eau Triple Sumi Hinoki by Officine Universelle Buly, one of the old French apothecaries. It’s very subtle. I hate it when you hug someone and their scent lingers on you.
On Her Work Process… I start around 10AM and finish around 7PM. Every day we stop to have lunch at the studio. I always schedule things around lunch, that’s a golden rule. Work is a friendly and familial environment – people are chatty and personable. We did a secret Valentine this year which was cute. We like to maintain the holiday spirit! I have a strict ‘no work on the weekend’ policy.
On Travelling… I love travelling for work, mostly to Paris and Milan. I love the way the earth looks when you are just about to land in a city, divided into big patches of blue and green, like a quilt. It has been so nice to be able to travel again in the last year and to connect with friends. I went to Paris last autumn to curate the Contemporary Curated show at Sotheby’s. I also made a life-sized chair out of cake for the show. It was a lot of fun.
On Creative Inspiration… I like to be in nature – either in a forest or around lots of trees and flowers or to go for a walk. I love farmers’ markets. I look to creatives, too. I love Louise Bourgeois, especially her fabric works and drawings. She was also a collector of beautiful things and a fellow lover of lace – my kind of woman. On Instagram, I follow @npr, @gohar.world and @casabosques, and all my friends to inform and inspire me. You are what you consume. Life’s too short to follow people who don’t make you feel good.
On Her Favourite Artwork… A small painting by my friend Cassi Namoda. She is extremely talented. I love it because it has sentimental value and it’s beautiful. It’s nice to look around [your home] and be reminded of the people who make your life sing.
On Her Best Career Advice… Put your head down and keep working. There are no shortcuts. Also, surround yourself with great people. I am lucky to work with an extremely loyal, hardworking and funny team. Success is about partnership, it doesn’t just come to one person. If I hadn’t figured out a way to express myself and found this career, I think I would be in a lot of trouble. I was a really cheeky child…
Marie-Claire Chappet is a London-based arts and culture journalist and contributing editor at Harper’s Bazaar
