DEEPA JAYARAMAN

Deepa Jayaraman, is an Indian visual artist based in New Delhi. She is fascinated by the impact of visual storytelling on cultural perceptions. Her practice critically examines how human representation in art history and modern media reflects biases, power dynamics, and the subtleties of violence. Through her work, she aims to challenge societal frames of perception while embracing collective fluid identities that engage with future anxieties. She explores the hidden forces shaping social hierarchies, juxtaposing innocence with darker undertones to examine the tension between idealistic escapism and social realities. Using parasitism as a metaphor, she investigates dependence and exploitation in human interactions. At the core of her work is the personification of idealism, embodied by the archetypal trickster figure, which, as Carl Jung described, challenges perceptions and reveals hidden truths. Through this lens, she uncovers the complexities beneath the facade of perfection, prompting reflection on the intricate relationship between idealism and reality. Drawing from Indian mythology, folklore, comics, and Disney animation, she reinterprets character design's role in identity formation. .Inspired by Dr. Zakir Hussain's idea of "a children's book for adults," she engages with complex social issues through imaginative storytelling. Her interdisciplinary practice spans various mediums, from drawings to moving images. She uses graphic lines and black ink to create raw, layered visuals. She conceives it as a "black noise," a silent yet pervasive force that embodies chaos and void amid the spectacle, deepening ambiguity through its layered diffusion. She explores depth and ambiguity, visually representing collective anxieties and the layered shades of human experience.