Chatting to Leyman Lahcine you get the impression that this is a man who would be able to keep himself entertained with his own thoughts even if he sat inside a paper bag all day. “Do you like London so far?” I ask in what I hope is an amiable fashion, “I LOVE London!” he says with unbridled enthusiasm. “Wonderful! Does it inspire your work at all?” “Oh no, he replies, I don’t really go out.”
I have to chuckle, his honesty is charming and goes some way to explaining the whimsical, if at times crass nature of his work – the uncomfortably titled Donald Dick and Happy Meal compositions being a case in point. “These two drawings are a satirical expression of a disagreement with capitalism,” he muses, “using two figures of emblematic corporations I am hoping to create awareness about the influence of this sort of corporation on the public by using fictional characters in obscene situations.”
So Fun by Leyman Lahcine
The justification is fair enough and while modern art has a habit of treading a precarious line between unfounded pretentiousness and a valid point, Lahcine appears nothing if not a genuinely kind, interesting and intelligent individual who paints for personal gratification rather than shock factor. His description of the paintings is a little contrasting to his wider ethos of not wanting to tell people what to think, but equally the paintings are there for people to take what they want from them, and Lahcine himself is thoughtful rather than dictatorial with his opinions.
The French-Algerian 27-year-old artist who has come to London after a five-year stint in New York is currently studying fashion design at Kingston University, but notes “I don’t see myself as a fashion designer really, more of an artist who does fashion … although I don’t want to sound pretentious” he says, with sincerity.
Fetish by Leyman Lahcine
His candour and seemingly heartfelt desire to simply “be creative” is supported by his feelings about painting – “I paint for me,” he says, “and that was one of my problems in New York, I compromised my creativity to please an audience.” Endearing and self-deprecating Lahcine says he feels that these days his work has more of his own personality in it, and it’s here that he feels eloquent, admitting a certain clumsiness outside of his own thoughtful world of paint and paper.
Dairy Free by Leyman Lahcine
While he comes across as nervous when talking about his work, as he warms up to our conversation Lahcine’s sense of humour starts to shine through – something one assumes he must have to be painting phallic images of much loved Disney icons. He chuckles as he explains that his upcoming exhibition which starts this month is entitled Lunatic with a Fruitcake because of its location in the Soho patisserie-cum-art gallery Maison Bertaux on London’s Greek Street.
An Evil Man by Leyman Lahcine
I am still curious though, if he doesn’t go out, why does he love London so much? He lights up at the thought, “I met the love of my life!” he says heartwarmingly, and while he never mentions her by name, a trait which makes him all the more likable for his discretion, I have it on good authority that the woman in question is creative songstress Paloma Faith. For today however, she simply remains “the love of my life”, which is just perfect.
by Bonnie Friend
Lunatic with a Fruitcake opens at Maison Bertaux, 28 Greek Street, London W1D 5DQ on September 23, 2015
With thanks to Hooligan Art Dealer
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