ART OF Reflections
Kieran Kenlock. England.
London in the summertime, it’s a beautiful thing regardless of a World Cup on the horizon. For Kieran, there’s a flame that lights up throughout London every tournament. That commonality that Londoner’s share, an identity carved through a lifetime traversing the city.
“This place unites culture”. This year we hope it ignites bigger and brighter than ever.
Football is life and life is football. Words that mean to Kieran more than most. His life has been spent chasing the game through many an iteration. A bond that while tested, even put on the back burner at points, will seemingly endure forever.
It’s not called the beautiful game for nothing, is it.
Modern England. South London born and bred. Earth strong Jamaican heritage. Fullback to writer. A story of identity, the highs and lows we experience through football is a well trodden path for many up and down the country but Kieran’s relationship with football is unique.
Football takes as much as it gives and can leave you questioning why you put yourself through it. Through the lens of a fan is one thing, but when your days and evenings were spent chasing a dream that ultimately just wasn’t meant to be, the adage of heartbreak after your first love goes some way to explain how much it takes to re-evaluate the path that’s next.
Now a writer, creative director and strategist Kieran, the journey of self discovery through football and the lessons learnt along the way pepper the conversation that took place in that studio rising up above the Thames. Footballers he says, are creative strategists on the pitch. Week in week out the moments condensed by pressure to perform and problem solve have their similarities with the place Kieran now finds himself. The world of advertising, of storytelling, putting words and ideas to a love or connection that others feel comes with its own weight and responsibility.
When asked the question “why you didn’t go pro”, the sentiment we kept coming back to was that theme of professionalism, through mature eyes what it would have taken at 18/19, the level of graft and development maybe just wasn’t fully there to take that next step. Let’s be honest there’s not many at that age who do have that kind of wherewithal, we know what we were doing at 18/19 and it most definitely wasn’t playing fullback for Palace.
Regardless, the work ethic and desire never left and it’s seemed to have landed him in good stead. A ‘marauding’ fullback, in his own words, now showing up in spaces that occupy ideas, creativity and soulful expression for big brands and tier 1 athletes rather than as part of a back four.
It’s safe to say that while the dream may change, it may take on a different shape - as you will as well. The journey that led to this point now, is exactly what it’s meant to be.
