“My work is a bridge over colored water.”
Freedom is often equated with movement. If one is free, it is supposed they may move freely, unhindered by restriction. But what about when there is no possible option to move, can there be freedom? I believe so.
These moments, where movement seems impossible but freedom still breathes, are the ones I love, the stories I feel called to tell. From the extreme to the mundane, my work finds, unearths, and illuminates these moments. With a focus on the ideals, emotions, and life experiences of people of color, I capture candid stories that unveil truths, break down stigmas and focus on the strength rooted in black culture.
Practically, I combine fabric, charcoal, wood, and paint with digital illustration and photography to create both two and three dimensional works. Drawing on my longtime experience as a professional dancer and educator, I have found a new way to express movement. By using household objects, vibrant colors, tantalizing textures, and dynamic symbols, I can direct the viewer’s eye in a choreographed exploration of the narrative. In this way, I bring movement to the still moments and share the story of freedom.
Who doesn’t love a good story?
BIO
Dafri is a storyteller and multi-disciplinary artist whose work illumines the paradoxical moments of freedom found in the midst of adversity. Dafri received his BFA from The University of Kentucky and his MA in Education (LBD) from Georgetown College. His work has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the southeast including: Behind the Roses at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center and Roots 101 African American Museum and And Hear We Still Stand, Purdue University Cultural Center. Dafri’s work has been featured in publications such as The Blood Horse Magazine, The Keeneland Magazine, Kentucky, and BLKCRWN + Culture. Dafri founded and runs his inaugural gift shop and gallery at the Julietta Market, housed in the historic Greyline Station in Lexington, KY.
