Writing on my work
Texts by art historians addressing selected aspects of my artistic practice.
Text by Carla Habel on my work (excerpt), 2017.
"The sources of artistic inspiration can be manifold: nature, metropolitan cities, foreign countries. Laila Seidel seeks her inspiration in regions that, for many Western Europeans, still appear as blank spaces on the map. She travels to countries of the former Soviet Union, to Kyrgyzstan, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and others. There, she finds the motifs that she later develops into paintings in the studio.
Her paintings are based on photographs taken on site. In this way, images emerge that seem to originate directly from the moment itself, capturing an event, a person, a movement, or sometimes merely an impression in painterly form. Her interest does not lie in the exact reproduction of the event, but rather in holding on to a vision. This is also evident in the intense use of colour through which she realises her paintings. The works are neither realistic nor abstract. Instead, Laila Seidel plays with different genres of painting, thereby creating her own distinctive style.
Laila Seidel often incorporates reflective surfaces into her works, such as sunglass lenses. Within these reflections, the viewer frequently perceives more of the surrounding environment in which the scene took place; in many cases, the title of the painting is derived from what becomes visible within these reflections. The depicted figures themselves are not the primary focus of the work. These are not classical portraits: neither the character nor the individual traits of a person are portrayed. Rather, the figures serve as carriers for colour and provide structure for the painting. Through them and through the use of colour, the character and the memory of a specific situation are articulated."
— Carla Habel, Art Historian
Excerpt from a text by Eva Čapková on my paper cut works, 2025.
"Negative space becomes just as important as positive space. It functions as an active element that evokes emotions and thoughts. The emptiness created through the removal of paper plays a key role in the overall perception of the work, as it forms an essential part of the composition.
Through cutting and removing paper material, Laila Seidel creates new realities that reflect our present time. She presents her experiences from different parts of the world, confronts the viewer with diverse cultures and customs, and raises questions about ourselves. She depicts landmarks of individual countries, while at the same time revealing places that often remain inaccessible to tourists. In her work, she translates long-established and significant themes of art history into a contemporary visual language. As one of the few artists working with the technique of paper cutting, she transforms it into a vivid, current, and creative means of expression."
— Eva Čapková, Art Historian