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…
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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.
![Image of catwalk look from Simone Rocha Spring/Summer 2023 collection; image of Eau Triple Sumi Hinoki perfume bottle, by Officine Universelle Buly](https://staging.service95.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Way-I-Work-7copy.jpg)
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.
![Laila Gohar finishing cake chair sculpture at the Sotheby's show Contemporary Curated in Paris](https://staging.service95.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laila-Gohar-Way-I-Work-3-1024x576.jpg)
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.
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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.
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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.
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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