John Rogers Creates Audio Portrait of Kensal Rise for Brent Biennial, Exploring Gentrification Through Psychogeography

John Rogers has developed an audio portrait of Kensal Rise for the Brent Biennial, available as a downloadable sound map from signage outside Kensal Rise Library. The work features interviews with locals, ranging from a woman in her early twenties to a ninety-year-old resident, capturing subjective memories of the area's transformation. Rogers, an artist and filmmaker known for documentaries like 'The London Perambulator' (2009) and 'London Overground' (2016), uses psychogeography to highlight community voices often overshadowed by narratives of gentrification. He employed maps from the 1920s as prompts during interviews, revealing how the landscape has radically changed since earlier periods, such as the 1860s when development was minimal. The project emphasizes the library's ethos, with about 60 percent of contributors connected to it, including Margaret, who runs an under-five club and campaigned to save the institution. Rogers notes the dispersal of historical communities, including African-Caribbean and Jewish groups, with one interviewee recalling five synagogues now reduced to one. The work was adapted due to COVID-19 restrictions, shifting from a planned vinyl archive in a listening booth to a community-focused portrait. Rogers' interest in psychogeography stems from his background in music journalism and walking, leading to projects like 'Remapping High Wycombe' in 2004–5 with an Arts Council grant.