Spotlight
Spotlight Artist Laila Tara H
Championed by Clemency Cooke and Charlotte Latham
Visual Arts
Above Have you irritated oysters, by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
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Above Portrait of Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Interview
Laila Tara H
Interview
Laila Tara H
Clemmie Cooke and Charlie Latham worked in the gallery sector for several years before opening their own space, in a 19th-century warehouse in Battersea, in 2018. In just a few short years, the gallery has become known as an incubator for emerging and mid-career talent, working with artists to create site-specific installations in which they can fully realise their visions. In 2024, rising star Laila Tara H will be next to join its impressive roster and host a solo exhibition at Cooke Latham Gallery.
The duo says: “Being a gallerist can often feel like an eternal, in person and online, sifting process. And then, from this excess of artists and imagery, something stands out as clearly remarkable. A voice that speaks succinctly; has an aesthetic signature and conceptual integrity. Laila has just such a voice.”
Iranian-British artist Laila’s small-scale, detailed works draw inspiration from the tradition of Indo-Persian miniature painting, and her desire to take the technique and give it the freedom that oil painting is granted – “to liberate it from the confines of ‘other-ed’ parameters”.
Cooke and Latham say: “We were immediately beguiled by the intimacy of Laila’s paintings. Following in the tradition of Indo-Persian miniatures, they pull the viewer close through their intricacy and yet feel utterly contemporary in composition and intent. Traditionally, miniatures were created under the patronage of a governing power whose virtues were then extolled through the work. The quiet radicalism of Laila’s work exists in its inversion of this power dynamic. Often domestic in composition or detail, this seemingly neutral terrain is the vantage point from which political and social control is analysed and critiqued. Despite their beauty, Laila’s works defy the comfort of being ‘decorative’. They are infinitely unsettling – herein lies their brilliance!”
Laila is currently preparing for her upcoming show at Cooke Latham and a joint show with Narges Mohammadi at Copperfield Gallery, which is opening in September. She says: “I’ll be attending the Blank100 residency in November as well. These overlap with and give space to present my ongoing body of work (which I suppose is a project of the longest type?!) on social and political structures of control that often seep into domestic spaces.”
She adds: “Every now and then when I’m in the depths of work and inevitably overcome with self-doubt, I stand by the door and look in at my workspace (studio or kitchen table). My biggest achievement so far is simply that I am finally painting, finally an artist.”
Iranian-British artist Laila’s small-scale, detailed works draw inspiration from the tradition of Indo-Persian miniature painting, and her desire to take the technique and give it the freedom that oil painting is granted – “to liberate it from the confines of ‘other-ed’ parameters”.
Cooke and Latham say: “We were immediately beguiled by the intimacy of Laila’s paintings. Following in the tradition of Indo-Persian miniatures, they pull the viewer close through their intricacy and yet feel utterly contemporary in composition and intent. Traditionally, miniatures were created under the patronage of a governing power whose virtues were then extolled through the work. The quiet radicalism of Laila’s work exists in its inversion of this power dynamic. Often domestic in composition or detail, this seemingly neutral terrain is the vantage point from which political and social control is analysed and critiqued. Despite their beauty, Laila’s works defy the comfort of being ‘decorative’. They are infinitely unsettling – herein lies their brilliance!”
Laila is currently preparing for her upcoming show at Cooke Latham and a joint show with Narges Mohammadi at Copperfield Gallery, which is opening in September. She says: “I’ll be attending the Blank100 residency in November as well. These overlap with and give space to present my ongoing body of work (which I suppose is a project of the longest type?!) on social and political structures of control that often seep into domestic spaces.”
She adds: “Every now and then when I’m in the depths of work and inevitably overcome with self-doubt, I stand by the door and look in at my workspace (studio or kitchen table). My biggest achievement so far is simply that I am finally painting, finally an artist.”
About the champion
Driven by the desire to facilitate exhibitions which might not otherwise have taken place, friends Clemency Cooke and Charlotte Latham founded their eponymous gallery in 2018. It supports an international roster of emerging and mid-career artists and is committed to providing an accessible platform for audiences to enjoy them from. As well as offering an ambitious programme of exhibitions, the community-focused gallery also hosts a series of in-conversation events and an active performance programme.
“Despite their beauty, Laila’s works defy the comfort of being ‘decorative’. They are infinitely unsettling – herein lies their brilliance.”
Above Termites, by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Tangled toes, twisted ears, by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Soft Body Hard Excuse, by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Lice by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Portrait of Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Bed Bugs, by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Termites, by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Tangled toes, twisted ears, by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Soft Body Hard Excuse, by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Lice by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Portrait of Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Bed Bugs, by Laila Tara H, Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
Above Courtesy of the artist
