Danni Simpson is a 26-year-old commercial and street artist from Australia who is currently creating on the other side of the globe. Danni has a natural passion and talent for art that has opened doors to a large number of projects and provided many opportunities to travel. We posed a coupla Q’s to Danni over the gram.
Hey Danni, you’re originally from Australia, right? A Gold Coast local, but currently overseas. Where are you now? How long have you been away from home, and where have your travels taken you so far?
About a year and a half ago I decided to bite the bullet and travel over to Europe to explore. After a few months of living in The Netherlands, I found a home away from home in the colourful city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. This base has allowed me to travel to Croatia, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. While painting in one of the busy streets in Shoreditch, London to a rooftop bar in the lively Temple Bar, Dublin.
What inspired you to travel and how have you chosen your destinations?
Along with many adventurous friends, in all honesty, I believe social media played a huge role in pushing me to travel. Seeing how many beautiful places, cultures, people, and things to be learned really drove me to travel. I chose destinations based on places I was interested in exploring but also have connections to. Belfast is where my mum was born, and my granny lives, so it played a huge factor to why I ended up based here.
What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced in getting established overseas?
Connections! Although we are lucky enough in today’s world to connect with like-minded creatives around the globe. The moment you step into a new city there are so many things that become unfamiliar. Whether it’s paint brands, procedures, people there is so much to learn.
What is it like coordinating creative work in another country?
To be honest, I was pretty fresh to the art scene when I was still in Australia, so I was still learning how to manage projects. Every project always offers something to learn, it has its own challenges regardless of where you are. As long as you are willing to learn and test your skills your work will evolve.
You’ve been working on a number of projects lately, have there been any standouts?
The last couple of months have been filled with so many projects that it’s not until I sit back and reflect I see just how special these projects have been. In particular, is my 60 metres long by 8ft high mural in Belfast City Centre for the development Tribeca. The size, detail, and impact on the community has been nothing but rewarding.
What have you enjoyed most about your recent creative work and travels?
Not only do I get to travel and explore but I get to inspire people across the globe to be creative. I have been involved in youth groups in troubled communities teaching them the cognitive therapy of creating and setting an example that anything is possible if you put time and energy into it.
The scale of what you do keeps getting bigger and bigger. Has that been part of your plan?
I would love to say that, however, I did not even expect to become a full-time artist. In saying that large scale murals are such an exciting project to work on. You break it down into smaller sections, execute each bit and when it all comes together and you step back and there are no words to describe seeing your vision come to life.
We hear that one of your recent murals in Belfast was capped by a graffiti writer. What’s your perspective on that?
Street art and studio art are two different things. The streets are our gallery, our paintings are for the community, to tell stories and to evoke emotion from the people who pass by. The beauty of street art is not just about turning the urban environment into a canvas, it that it is a temporary creative injection of personality into a city. Although no one likes their hard work to be capped with tags, I respect all street art and graffiti as it’s a form of self-expression.
What’s on the horizon for you? Can we expect to see you back in Australia anytime soon?
I am working on country-based maps for prints across the world while I have a few projects lined up for Ireland and England, but planning a trip back to Australia over Summer 19/20.
Thank you for jumping on to answer a few questions. Before finishing up, where can people find you online?
Follow my creative journey on Instagram:
instagram.com/dannisimpsonart
facebook.com/dannisimpsonart
dannisimpsonart.com