Dreph

<div>Olaudah Equiano was one of the first black abolitionists to visit Ireland, travelling to the country in May 1791. He was regarded as a leading spokesperson on enslavement and was also a gifted writer and lecturer. In 1789 he published his autobiography, 'The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African'. He travelled widely promoting the book, which became immensely popular, helping the abolitionist cause. It is one of the earliest books published by a black African writer.&nbsp;<br><br>He arrived in Ireland at a time of heightened revolutionary activity in Europe in the wake of the French Revolution of 1789. During his visit to Belfast, Equiano stayed with Samuel Neilson, a member of the Charitable Society, founder and editor of the radical, abolitionist newspaper the Northern Star and a founding member of the United Irishmen. Although primarily remembered as Irish separatists, it was the United Irishmen's promotion of equality and abolitionism that most interested Dreph.<br><br>It was members of this society who hosted Equiano during most of his visit. Consequently, African-born Equiano, a former slave, unwittingly found himself at the centre of radical Irish politics.<br><br>This mural is based on a black and white portrait painted by William Denton and engraved by Daniel Orme. It was commissioned by Equiano as a frontispiece to The Interesting Narrative.&nbsp;<br><br>@dreph_<br><br>Part of the Belfast Entries Project</div>

Olaudah Equiano

Untitled

<div>This beautiful railway arch mural was painted by Dreph and honours the life of Jimmy Rogers,a local man, who among other things coached and founded the Brixton Topcats basketball team. Jimmy who coached the team for about 30 years passed away in 2018.</div>

Jimmy Rogers and Brixton Topcats

<div>Beautiful Marie Costa mural by Dreph on the Winston Churchill Ave side of Portsmouth Law Courts.&nbsp;</div>

Marie Costa Mural 

<div>A few years ago this shutter mural has been done by Dreph to celebrate 70th anniversary of Windrush and to honour those who came before us.&nbsp;<br><br><br></div>

Diverse gifts / Windrush 70

<div>Huge Brixton mural celebrates the 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’<br><br>The stunning 16-foot piece mural, placed next to the police station on Canterbury Crescent, pays homage to the 40th anniversary of the 1981 Brixton Uprising – a watershed moment for race relations in the UK.<br><br>Growing tensions around racial inequality erupted into violent clashes between the predominantly Black youth of Brixton and the Metropolitan police force.<br>The uprising was sparked by the same police violence and injustice that Marvin Gaye sang about in What’s Going On. The riots took place over three days, devastating the community and injuring over 300 people.<br>Dreph’s art represents the musical message of What’s Going On, which still held its significance amongst police brutality and racial inequality in 1981 and continues to encourage today’s social justice movement.<br>The picket signs reference the lyrics from the title track and words taken from the album’s song titles within the piece. The symbols represent contemporary movements campaigning to address the climate crisis, gender inequality, and world peace.</div>

What's Going On?

Lady with Choker Mural

<div>The rising of sea levels is a topic that can seem so far away from the concerns of everyday life here in Margate. Sadly just in the same way as many low-lying countries and smaller islands around the world will have to evaluate how they deal with rising sea levels, many parts of the UK will also need to turn their attention to this increasingly impactful crisis. Eventually, Thanet will return to being an island off the coast of mainland UK, as it was before farmers filled in the rivers. It’s currently estimated that this could become a reality as soon as the year 2050.</div><div><br>This mural captures two local Thanet children playing with sandcastles on the beach, water rising all around the castle, and asks whether it is fair to leave this scenario for the young and as-yet unborn to deal with. Addressing our carbon footprints <em>today</em> is vital, to undo the unnecessary responsibilities that we are currently leaving for those in future generations.</div><div><br>We can take steps to reduce our individual carbon by changing our diets, shopping habits, energy and transport choices. To that end, RUR is challenging how event production is conducted, opting to use a Graphenstone biosphere which, applied up to four weeks before the mural is painted, sequesters carbon.</div><div><br>With special thanks to Margate locals Shona and Daisy for being a part of this project.<br><br>Instagram: @riseupresidency_<br>www.<a href="https://riseupresidency.co.uk/">riseupresidency.co.uk/</a><br>www.<a href="https://www.riseupcleanup.co.uk/">riseupcleanup.co.uk/</a><br><br></div>

Sandcastles & Sea Level Rising

<div>The artwork is one part of NHS Blood and Transplant’s new ‘Giving Type’ campaign, which aims to empower communities to come together to change the narrative around sickle cell through the act of giving blood – which can save up to three lives with every donation. The ‘Giving Types’ depicted within the mural tell the stories of real people who are helping sickle cell patients from the Black community by regularly donating their blood.<br><br>‘Giving Type’ case studies that are depicted in the mural are, Jaydan Manyan, 28, Birmingham; Torkwase Holmes, Bristol; Ronald Clarke, 63, Greater Manchester; Samantha Awuku, 32, London; and&nbsp; Lloyd Simmonds, 64, London.</div>

Giving Types

<div>Theres quite a few of drephs pieces to be found in London at the moment, there all outstanding portraits of influential black people that he's showcased.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Michael John is a well known Brixton figure who has, among other things, looked after the Pope’s Road toilets, which are opposite the mural, for many years. The mural was commissioned as part of the October 2017 Brixton Design Trail week. The artist, Dreph, specialises in tributes to unsung heroes.</div>

Michael John mural

<div>The homage to the former First Lady of the United States is the creation of Nottingham-born artist Neequaye Dreph Dsane, also known simply as Dreph.<br><br></div><div>The mural can be found on Dorrell Place in the centre of Brixton, on the side of an M&amp;S supermarket.<br><br></div><div>Dreph has created the work in collaboration with Penguin Random House, celebrating the upcoming publication of Obama’s autobiography Becoming, which was released on November 13th 2018.<br><br></div><div>“Michelle Obama is undoubtedly an inspiration to many as she continues to use her voice to speak on pressing societal issues that are close to her heart, particularly issues that affect young people within our global community,” Dreph said.<br><br>Unfortunately the large part of mural has been tagged. <br><br>Original:<br><br><a href="https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2018/10/30/12/michelle-obama-mural-3010a.jpg?width=968">https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2018/10/30/12/michelle-obama-mural-3010a.jpg?width=968</a><br><br><br><br></div>

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Dreph

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