This British-Ghanaian artist is filling city streets with the faces of those who inspire him. Neequaye Dreph Dsane is based in London but has also worked in cities across the globe. As a father and former art school teacher, he is now applying his talents to bigger projects. His original large-scale portraits celebrate minorities, recognize immigrants and pay tribute to ordinary people doing spectacular things. His work brightens up the streets while also bringing attention to important issues.
One of Dreph’s more recent projects is his series named “You are Enough,” which features black women from within the community who are pushing boundaries and succeeding in their own unique ways. These are women who are contributing to society by embracing their individuality and applying it towards their passions. These include social activists, campaigners, writers, educators, and so on. In 2017, much to his surprise, the project went viral on British media.
Each subject for this project has a unique background and personality which Dreph captures in his larger-than-life artwork. His routine includes simply knocking on people’s doors requesting permission to paint over their walls.
Dreph’s latest series, “Migration,” focuses on immigrants who have traveled to the UK and have made positive contributions towards their communities. His goal is to recognize the significance of having rich diversity within the city and express his opinions on Brexit, nationalism, and gentrification. He aims to tell the story of the individual through his artwork as a way to acknowledge the unique souls that the city is comprised of.
For those who may not know, Brexit is the term used in reference to Britain “exiting” the European Union. With this debate at hand, many feel this “exit” is necessary in order to restore the country’s identity – hence why many of those same people would oppose immigration. They feel their cultural identity is at stake. Many want the country to retrieve the authority over its economic policies that it has lost while being a part of the European Union.
Dreph’s unique take on expressing his stance on everything happening is still in motion today. He approaches these larger issues through a more personal platform – which is what makes it so influential. To him, it is important to maintain the authenticity of the people within his art – he believes the smaller communities give the city its “soul.” He plans to continue collecting these stories and sharing them throughout the city of London within the upcoming year.
You can browse through each of his pieces and read the backstory for all of them on his website: http://dreph.co.uk/