For Laila Gohar, the most important ingredient in a great dinner party is the vibe. Her No. 1 dinner-party tip is to focus less on the food and more on the atmosphere, she tells the Cut. “It’s not so much about wowing people with food or flowers; it’s about relaxing and having a good time,” she says. “If you’re having a good time in your home, other people will too.”
The artist and Gohar World co-founder is known for her artfully curated dinner parties: tables adorned with braided mozzarella, egg chandeliers, and salami-shaped candles. Now, for Moncler, she finds herself as the subject instead, joining a cast of talents that includes Rina Sawayama, Isamaya Ffrench, and Jeremy O. Harris, curated by Jefferson Hack and shot by Jack Davison. The immersive art exhibit, “An Invitation to Dream,” takes over Milan’s Milano Centrale station with images, video, and quotes from the campaign’s cast displayed across posters and billboards within the station.
“At the end of the day, it’s storytelling,” she says of working with Moncler, “which is something I do with my work and something that’s being done with this campaign.”
Below Gohar shares her dinner-party rules, her prework ritual, and what’s next for Gohar World.
You’ve hosted some impressive dinner parties. What are your dinner-party must-haves?
The food is really important because it’s a dinner party, but I always say the most important thing isn’t the food but the overall vibe. I always encourage people not to get too caught up on the food and remember that the point is to have a good time. So the most important thing to show up with is a good and relaxed attitude. As a host, if you’re too stressed about the food, the atmosphere won’t be right. It’s not the time to try out the laborious recipe that you’ve bookmarked; it’s time to fall back on dishes you’re comfortable with to make sure you’re in the right spirit. That’s the single most important ingredient for a dinner party.
What’s your No. 1 rule when hosting a dinner party?
Don’t lose sight of why you’re hosting to begin with. You’re being generous with your time and sharing yourself and your home with other people — that’s really what it’s all about. It’s not about you making a fancy meal. If people want a fancy Michelin-star meal, most likely they’ll get a better one at a restaurant no matter how hard you try. It’s really about the experience. If you’re stressed about something, the people in your home won’t be able to relax either.
Similarly, do you have any rules for letting guests stay over?
I’m a no-shoes household because I have a 1-year-old kid who likes to lick the floor. I’ve always been a no-shoes household; I think it’s an immigrant thing. I have another one: No outdoor clothes on the bed. I like to be loose around plus-ones, if people ask to bring a plus-one. I try my best to accommodate that. It all relates to having people feel comfortable in your home, and that’s the most important thing. If you’re hosting six people and they’re going to bring a seventh, people are happy to share, and it’s easier to say “yes” than “no.”
A lot of Gohar World is surreal and playful. Is there a shape or silhouette you’ve wanted to create in your work but haven’t had a chance to do yet?
We’re developing a whole bunch of new candles for this spring. It’s things that are, like you said, surreal and kind of playful; we play a lot with scale. There’s a giant apple and other things that feel a little like “Jack and the Giant Beanstalk.” That was one of my major sources of inspiration across the board.
For Moncler, you’ll be one of the subjects of an immersive art exhibition in Milan Central Station. What’s it like being the subject of the art instead of creating it?
It’s different. When you’re the subject it’s fun, it’s less of a schlep than my usual day-to-day work. I like to do a little bit of both. It’s fun to be on both ends. In both cases you’re bringing this idea to life and telling a story around it.
I was also excited about working with this photographer, Jack Davison, because he’s someone whose work I admire. I was curious to see what he’d come up with. I also thought it was really smart for Moncler to partner with Jefferson Hack on this because he’s one of the best storytellers of our time. He did a good job of curating the talent for it. I was excited to see some people that I admire, like Ruth Rogers, who is the owner of the River Cafe in London, a well-known and influential restaurant. They did a good job of picking a diverse group of people from different walks of life.
Speaking of Moncler, do you have any favorites or essentials from the brand?
I love the collaborations with the brand. I have the Moncler x Simone Rocha coat, which I wear almost every day, and it was nice to be involved with them.
Where do you get your best culture recommendations from?
Friends. A lot of word of mouth. I don’t listen to many podcasts or read a million newsletters. I’m still kind of a little bit old-school. When you know your friend, when they recommend something, you know what it will be like. If it’s a fancy friend, then you know it’ll be a spot for something fancier. There’s nuance when you know the people that sometimes gets lost in media.
What’s the last meal you cooked for dinner?
I cook dinner every day. Yesterday I made pasta last minute because I was working pretty late. I made a simple pasta with garlic, parsley, and some bottarga on top.
Which celebrities would you invite to a dinner party (dead or alive)?
Louise Bourgeois. I identify with her work, and I feel like I understand the emotions she had or was trying to convey. I see a lot of similarity, not necessarily in the work itself (because the medium was different) but in the process, ideas, and where it came from. I’d make her something simple. I like a project, something that takes a long time. I don’t think most people need to do that, but this is what I do for a living. To me, it’s not stressful to be cooking something for like two days that requires a million steps. I like long projects, so I’d maybe make some sort of stew or something braised. It depends on the weather, too. I’d make something that has lots of different steps and can kind of be the whole weekend.
What’s your prework ritual?
I don’t watch a ton of TV, so I don’t watch any shows. I like to play music; there are several Brazilian playlists that I like. Bossanova lends itself to dinner parties and has a good vibe. I like a Spotify radio so it sticks to the genre and bounces around.
Favorite piece of art you own?
I have a lot of art I love and cherish, but the most sentimental thing is this little family portrait my stepson made for me a couple of years ago. I have that framed and I keep it in my bedroom.
Name a book you couldn’t put down.
The book I’m reading right now is called The Musical Child, and it’s a psychology book about the effect of music on a child, even in the womb, and how the music helps shape the brain. It’s often a child’s first conscious thoughts around bonding, empathy, and different kinds of emotions and experiences and how those things can be facilitated through music. It’s fascinating to me, all of this.
People always say classical music will make your kids smart, but it’s a little more complex than that. The rhythm will affect cognitive ability. This book is less about that and more about emotional connection and bonding with the child. When they can hear and participate in rhythm they start to understand that they can connect with other people, like when they start clapping. That’s important for healthy attachment styles and for children to connect with their parents and caregivers.
What’s the best and worst advice you’ve ever received?
I can’t think of horrible advice I’ve received, but growing up my dad gave me a lot of good advice. He instilled a lot of trust in myself and instinct in me, and I rely on that interpersonally and in all aspects of my life. I have pretty strong instincts, we all have that, but people are afraid to listen or are not taught to trust their instincts. Thanks to advice he’s given me over the years, I’m very in tune with my instincts.
Chinea Rodriguez , 2024-04-16 19:33:48
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