The Name Kamera Obscura

It was a great sunny afternoon. I was sitting comfortably, sipping Lapsang Souchong from a fine porcelain cup and leafing through the Evening Standard, reading my favourite page, written by the late art critic Brian Sewell.

It was an article about the Dutch School of painting, discussing the theory that the 17th-century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer used a camera obscura. As I was reading, my eyes kept going back to those two words: camera obscura. I remember thinking that this would be the name for my label.

Then came another coincidence.

A little book called Kamera Obscura by Vladimir Nabokov had been given to me as a present by my Russian friend (Макс) Max, the brother of my good friend Anneliese. Max also suggested writing the name with a K, as in Russian.

Now I had no doubt. It felt as though something was pushing me towards that name.

That same evening, we all had a drink to celebrate the new name for my label, and an unfortunate power cut sent us into laughter in the dark.

- Martine Abate