A fresh face for a neighbourhood off-license
“For the community, everyone is very excited because this isn’t like one of the big supermarket chain corner shops.
People are proud to have a local business, and they think that it adds character to the street. Kids love it, and adults love it.”
local Collaboration on King Henry’s Walk - the shop front of king food & Wine
Engin Aslan owns the off-license in front of the Pocko Gallery on King Henry’s Walk in London. It is a small street where neighbours keep an eye out for one another, and Pocko has always had a very amicable relationship with Engin and his family. After a lengthy Corona lockdown, Engin and Pocko’s creative director, Nicola Schwartz, hatched a plan to create a more colourful and inviting environment for their stretch of Dalston. The idea was to create a new front for the off-license, which felt like a mural, giving a unique experience for the neighbourhood, serving to attract new customers and clients both for the shop and the gallery.
The new shopfront acts as a joyful stage, reflecting the power of pride and connection that art can bring to a neighbourhood. The new shopfront also tells the story of King Henry VIII, written as a poem by local writer Mark Johnson.
the work
Paul Bower’s witty and ironic work was ideal for interpreting the poem into a cheeky playground of fruit and veg characters. Raissa Pardini, whose work focuses primarily on typography, added a blend of 80s/Deco/Pop style, infusing a cool vibe to the painting. The work’s playfulness engages both young and old audiences, and Engin has reported many people stopping by to comment and give congratulations.
Artist Paul Bower braving the freezing temperatures
Raissa Pardini creating the typography
King Food & Wine Before its make-over
“Engin and I have a great friendship and after all the Pandemic stress, it felt great to open up the gallery again
and to spread the joy of new beginnings with him and the lovely people on King Henry’s Walk”
