I was excited to read that a new exhibition had been opened at the Esoterik Collection. This time the featured artist and her work is Ketty La Rocca (1938-1976), who is described as a trailblazing figure of Italian conceptual art. Her work has been called subversive, witty, and thought provoking.

The above examples show her clever use of various media to create art, signs, posters which could be provocative and fun.

She also explored the concept of ‘reductions,’ taking an image and continually reducing it to a very basic level. Some of the reductions may not be too clear, below, but this example of an Italian poster for the classic American movie, “Gone With the Wind” illustrates the process.

A Taste of Islington

The Esoterik Collection is located in the Borough of Islington. When one leaves the Highbury and Islington Underground Station, it might feel like you have been dropped into a rather typical London high street with fast food shops and pubs next to empty shop fronts. But cross a road and turn a corner and you see a very different Islington. Here are a few picutres of leafy suburban life, just across from the Esoterik.

Within a minute of the Underground Station is Compton Terrace, a group of townhouses and a Congregational Church, plus a lovely garden that shelters the Terrace from the hustle and bustle of urban life beyond it.

There was a funeral in the Church, so I could not go inside, but the garden was charming with several small private corners to enjoy.

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