Letter H – Drew.Lab_One – Masterful Calligraphy in Street Art
In the vibrant streets of Berlin, Drew.Lab_One, a versatile artist from Italy, has made a name for herself by blending semi-realistic portraits with abstract calligraphy. Since moving to Berlin in 2013, her multidisciplinary works have captivated audiences, drawing inspiration from her passion for mythology, ancient religions, and social issues.
A Calligraphic Prayer for Berlin
As part of the #freiheitberlin project at Teufelsberg, Drew.Lab_One created an impressive piece on the letter “H,” titled “Sonne im Herzen” (Sun in the Heart). Her goal was to craft a written mantra in abstract calligraphy. In a time when freedom seems to be a diminishing concept, and digital technologies can replicate even the uncertainty of the human hand, she chose to let go of legibility. Instead, she focused on the poetry and emotion of handwriting, a form of expression that traces our history from ancient to futuristic.
Her work on the letter “H” is such a calligraphic mantra. Drew.Lab_One describes it as “a prayer for a city that was once a temple of innovation, freedom, and a melting pot of cultures, but is now a place of bigotry, hypocrisy, and gentrification. In this new Berlin, I turn to the sun in my heart, an eternal light that cannot be extinguished: this is my gift to the city.”
From Naples to Berlin
Born on June 17, 1985, in Naples, Drew.Lab_One began her artistic journey at the age of 13 in experimental theater. It was during this time that her passion for portraiture and calligraphy developed, laying the foundation for her unique style. At 20, after completing her studies in modern philology, Drew.Lab_One shifted her creative focus to the streets. The urban walls of Berlin became her canvas, and the city itself a living dialogue through which she expressed her thoughts and societal critique.
Drew.Lab_One combines modern technology with her love for classical calligraphy. For her, it is no longer just about the legibility of the script but about the design itself. By merging Arabic, Italian, Cyrillic, and Gothic script traditions, she has developed a unique style that unites flowing gestures, geometric elegance, and structural strength. In her street art, she creates ritual spaces by repeating words and quotes in a secret language. These spaces invite the viewer to engage with the artwork and enable deep, almost spiritual experiences. For her, art is a ritual that transforms words into mantras because “words create reality.” Her innovative blend of tradition and modernity makes her works visual mantras – powerful “visual sounds” that explore human experience and urban life.
The Wise Monkey Speaks Again
In March 2024, Drew.Lab_One presented another work at Teufelsberg titled “All Animals Are Equal ft. Sage Monkey” as part of the Power of Female Art Festival. The mural consists of three sections and addresses war, propaganda, and Julian Assange.
In the first section, Drew.Lab_One gives voice to her iconic figure, the Wise Monkey, asking, “What happened to ‘Never Again’?” – a reference to the broken promises of never waging war again, especially in light of conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine.
The second section quotes George Orwell’s Animal Farm: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” With this, Drew.Lab_One critiques the inequality and hypocrisy still rampant in our society.
In the third part, she paints Julian Assange on a piece of cardboard and exposes it to the elements in Berlin, symbolizing his current state: forgotten and neglected. Drew.Lab_One leaves it to the viewer to decide whether to let Assange “rot” or to take action to give him the place in society he deserves. Through this, she encourages reflection on our responsibility to heroes like him.
Drew.Lab_One’s art not only leaves its mark on the walls of Berlin but also in the hearts of those who engage with her work. Did you know that you can discover Drew.Lab_One’s incredible piece on the letter “H” for yourself? Join our Street Art Tour, visit the famous letters, and experience her unique art up close. Book your tickets now and dive into the fascinating world of street art!