Artist Bio
Madhvee Deb is an Indian multidisciplinary artist who, after living in Africa, Australia, and Europe, now calls Singapore home. She creates conceptual image-based works that combine photography, video, and mixed media to explore identity, social constructs, impermanence, and memory.
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Raised in India, her early worldview was shaped by tradition and complex social dynamics. From 1998 to 2020, that perspective broadened as she navigated life on multiple continents and encountered diverse cultures firsthand - each showing rawness, resilience, and contrasting ideas of individuality and belonging. Now settled in Singapore since 2009, her practice continues to evolve, drawing from these diverse experiences.
Deb holds an Honours degree in Sanskrit, a language rich in history, philosophy, and ideas about perception and existence. Its focus on free thinking continues to influence her work. Her journey into fine arts, however, began later in life, after discovering photography nearly two decades ago - a medium that quickly became central to her practice.
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In the following years, she took various courses and spent years studying independently. In 2014, she formalised her training by studying Fine Arts at Lasalle College of Arts, Singapore, earning her MAFA from Goldsmiths University of London. Her diverse education, rooted in ancient philosophy and contemporary practice, continues to shape her creative language to this day.
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Madhvee Deb is a recipient of the George Town Festival Grant (2018). She has held solo exhibitions at the George Town Festival (Malaysia) and Galleri Soho (Västerås, Sweden, 2019). Her work has been shown in group exhibitions internationally, including in Singapore, France, Malaysia, Sweden, and the USA. Madhvee has also spoken at platforms such as the Alliance Française de Singapour and the Milan Image Art & Design Fair, Singapore.
Artist Statement
I work with photography, video and mixed media to explore the themes of identity, memory, impermanence and social narratives. Inspiration often stems from my personal experiences, both the positive and the challenging, as well as from literature, social interactions, and the broader cultural landscape.
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Subtly woven into the fabric of each piece, these life experiences not only shaped my work, but have also instilled in me a deep sense of sonder—an awareness of the hidden worlds within others that drives my exploration of the personal and the universal, the seen and the unseen. Alongside material and theme, metaphor remains a constant in my practice. Like a bridge between artist and viewer, it invites layered interpretations, encouraging personal connection and reflection.
Over time, my practice has evolved beyond purely image-based works, integrating diverse materials and techniques. Rather than limiting myself to a single medium, I let the subject matter dictate the form, ensuring that each project finds its most authentic yet coherent voice.
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My creative process is fluid and intuitive, beginning with observation and reflection. Once an idea forms, I explore it through both historical and contemporary lenses to express it in my own visual language. Layering is central to my process, whether through ideas, materials, or physical elements. It adds depth and complexity to the work. Each piece evolves through trial, error, and critical reflection.
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Inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, a philosophical text from ancient India, and Stoic principles, I centre my practice on the act of creation itself—finding meaning in the process rather than the outcome. Although these texts have spiritual roots, I interpret them through a secular lens, using them as frameworks for introspection and creative clarity.
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Photography in particular has transformed my life by allowing me to develop an artistic sensibility. Encountering it later in life I was captivated by its power to capture fleeting moments and translate emotions into visual form.
At its heart, my work challenges norms and encourages curiosity. I want to spark interest, create emotional connections making people pause, engage and think. For me, art is more than just visuals—it’s a way to start conversations, connecting personal stories with larger themes to help us see the world differently.
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Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2014 Master in Fine Arts, Lasalle College of The Arts, Singapore (Degree awarded by Goldsmiths, University of London)
1997 Bachelor of Arts(Hons), St.Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad – India
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​EXHIBITIONS
2024 Online Group Exhibition - A Testament to Loss Curated by Maria Barham-Black as part of Too Tired Project
2023 Group Exhibition: Of Spaces in Between, Two artworks, centered around the theme of duality, are connected across two locations through augmented reality. Hin Bus Depot, Georgetown and ZHAN Art Space, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2021 Group Exhibition: Crossing Borders: A Global Exhibition Exploring Themes of Migration at Konstrundan City Vernissage, Galleri Soho, Vasteras, Sweden
2019 Group Exhibition: Affordable Art Fair Singapore represented by Gallery Studio-ID, Singapore. Also featured as spotlight artist.
2019 Group Exhibition: Travelling exhibition across multiple Malaysian cities, The 8” by 6″ Project, Malaysia.
2019 Solo Exhibition: Digital Waste: The Sweet Smell of Burning, Galleri Soho, Vasteras, Sweden
2019 Group Exhibition: Konstrundan City Vernissage, Galleri Soho, Vasteras, Sweden
2019 Group Exhibition: You Are All Invited, China House Penang, Malaysia.
2018 Solo Exhibition: Digital Waste: The Sweet Smell of Burning, OME at Artspace, Penang. Part of the George Town Festival
2016 Group Exhibition: Rainbow Centre fundraising public exhibition and auction, At ION Orchard, Singapore
2015 Group Exhibition: Metamorphosis; Singapour En France, FRAC Des Pays De La Loire. Curated by Laurence Gateau (Toulouse/France)
2014 Group Exhibition: Consciousness; Art stage, Singapore
2014 Ready As I’ll Ever Be: Landings; Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore. Curated by Adeline Kueh and Ian Woo.
2014 Wait for me, on the other side: Eminent Takeover at Eminent Plaza; Curated by Khai Hori, David Chew and Naomi Wang. (Singapore)
2014 Ready As I’ll Ever be: Silent Giraffe; Institute of Contemporary Art, Praxis Space, Singapore. Curated by Adeline Kueh and Ian Woo
2014 Artist Talk at MIA&D International Photography and Design Art Fair, Singapore
2014 Nominated for ‘Prudential Young Artists Award’.
2014 Huis Clos – Lucky the dog: Lasalle College of the Arts Winstead. Curated by Françoise Huguier
2013 Round table: Portraits between reality and fiction, Part of the Panel with François Huguier, Gilles Massot, Charles Lim, Edwin Koo
2013 Open Studio: Superfiction, Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore.
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RESIDENCY | GRANTS | AWARDS
2025 Art Ichol, India - Artist Residency (upcoming)
2021 NPE Singapore - Artist Residency (cancelled due to Covid)
2018 George Town Festival grant for development and exhibition of new works.
2014 Nominated for ‘Prudential Young Artists Award’
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PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
2019 Penang Monthly a feature about the series Digital Waste: The Sweet Smell of Burning
2013 Work was published in Turkish eBook and eMagazine ‘Fotoritim’
2018 Turning digital waste into art feature in Star Online by Jeremy Tan
2018 ‘Digital Waste’: an Exploration of human dependence, focus on virtual world article in Malay Mail by Opalyn Mok
2013 Feature in Photozoom magazine as the photographer – Asia
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OTHER ART INITIATIVES
2019 - 21 Co-founder of a global art collective Crossing Borders, Crossing Borders: A Global Exhibition Exploring Themes of Migration through concurrent shows. (cancelled due to Covid)
2019 Co-curated and organised the exhibition “You are all invited”, China House, Penang – Malaysia.
2018 Co-founded the Penang Monthly Art Meet Up initiative to support exchange and collaborations amongst the artist and art community
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