Deepikah RB (b. 1985) is an Indian interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto. Shegraduated from OCAD University with an MFA in interdisciplinary arts. Shecreates speculative installations about ecology, climate crisis, and perceptionin collaboration with materials like algae, plants, gelatine, and more thanhumans. She recently won the second prize in the visual arts category at the ScarbroughArts Annual Juried show 2024. Her thesis show, "a place to fallapart," was exhibited at Ignite Gallery in April 2024. Deepikah was partof the juried shows at The Propeller Gallery and the Geary Art Crawl 2024(Toronto) and has exhibited across Canada, India, & CDMX. She was alsoselected to present her work at Salon Acme in Mexico City in February 2025.
My work delves into the intersections of nature, motherhood, and hope, inviting viewers to contemplate our interconnectedness within the environment and with critters. Drawing from personal experiences as an Indian woman and mother navigating ecological and societal challenges, my art explores themes of care, sustainability, and speculative futures.
My thesis exhibition 'a place to fall apart' embodied a world where human and non-human entities coexisted and collaborated. Using a range of materials like algae, kombucha, and found objects, I craft artworks that challenge traditional notions of artmaking and consumption. Through tentacular spontaneity—a methodology of deep listening through intuition, feeling, play, and embracing Haraway's ideas about penetrable systems—I engage with materials as living entities, emphasizing their agency and interconnectedness within larger ecosystems.
Central to my practice is the reclamation of pleasure and joy in art, inspired by Audre Lorde's concept of the erotic as a source of power. By incorporating feminist and ecofeminist ideologies, I envision a future where technology, care, and empathy converge to foster new narratives of resilience and healing.
I want to expand my research with biomaterials that encourage viewers to reconsider their relationship with nature, motherhood, and the potential for collaborative futures in the face of ecological crises. This involves continuously decentering anthropocentric narratives and aligning with the agencies of our non-human friends. Embracing interconnectedness, joy, and care as guiding principles for a more inclusive and sustainable world.