Asked about Periphery, Darren Reddy spoke of marginalized people once pushed to society’s edge. His charcoal and acrylic works bring those voices into focus, reflecting on freedom, democracy and the power of representation.
“My work is based on the marginalized groups of people that have been oppressed in the past, and the freedom that you get from opportunity and democracy. Periphery fits in perfectly to my work because my subjects have been pushed to the periphery — and what can come from that is freedom, opportunity, and the chance to build together as a free society, a free world, a free nation.”
For Darren, art is both deeply personal and political. Growing up in Tongaat, a small town north of Durban, he was raised in a multicultural community made up largely of Indian and Black South Africans. That environment continues to influence his artistic vision. “My work resembles where I’m from. The people and subjects that surrounded me were pushed to the periphery of society, and now is the time to build a free society where people are given the opportunities they weren’t in the past.”
For him, Periphery is not just a theme, but a lived reality. “Marginalized people weren’t portrayed authentically in art before. Now we have the freedom and opportunities to do that. Subjects that were once on the edge of society are coming into a new world, a new democracy, a place of freedom. That dynamic fits into my art perfectly. It’s personal to me — a belief in the direction we all want to move forward in.”
Darren works primarily in charcoal and acrylic, sometimes incorporating pastel and oil pastel. His style is rooted in drawing — refined versions of sketches that balance rawness with intention. “They’re not rough sketches, but they’re also not polished. They bring out the dynamic of struggle. The strokes, the lines, the way I create — there’s a lot of emotion and feeling in them. That’s become my style or language, one I’ve grown into over the past couple of years.”
For Darren, showcasing work in Periphery at The Gallery is an affirmation of both his journey and the role art plays in shaping society. “It’s perfect that The Studios and The Gallery are working with us, building a new country even. I’m really proud and really excited to be part of that.”