Sticky, sensual sculptures from artist Jala Wahid

Not many artists can boast a first in Physics, but after graduating with a BSci from Manchester, sculptor and video artist Jala Wahid went down the more conventional route of studying Fine Art at Goldsmiths.

The London-based artist’s work, often executed in pinks, oranges and reds, drips with raw sensuality. Sex and the human body share a constant presence, with titles including My serous lining, Navel Gazing, Every mouthful of you, Hard Blush and I’ve got a burning desire (come on, tell me boy). Some sculptures are grotesque, like Caramel Highlights which triggers images of entrails freshly torn from the body. Soft Weaponry is tougher, showing sculptures which imitate snapped acrylic nails. In many of Jala’s pieces, conventional sculptural materials such as plaster, acrylic paint, lacquer, ceramic, steel, bronze and copper are combined with less expected, sometimes edible elements including sugar, gelatine, golden syrup, grapefruit, sweet orange, clove and bergamot oils as well as Kurdish sweets, invoking Jala’s Kurdish heritage.

Since graduating for the second time, Jala has exhibited work at Tank gallery, The Sunday Painter and Seventeen gallery in London, Cologne’s Temporary Gallery, at Sorbus-galleria in Helsinki and at 0fr gallery and Room E-10 27 in Paris.

Next, on 16 September, the sculptor and film-maker will take part in the Serpentine’s Park Nights programme, where she will “bring together existing music, personal and collective histories… in an evening exploring collective affect, longing and love.”