Interview: Robindeep Singh
Luca Curci talks with Robindeep Singh during THE BODY LANGUAGE 2021, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space and Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

Photography is my passion and has been for as long as I can remember. It’s quite scary sharing my work with the world, but it would truly be selfish if I kept it to myself. What you see is what you get. The collection of photographs in my portfolio showcases what I captured in the past decade. Photography allows us to explore our identity. It doesn’t matter if you know all the secrets to the world or nothing at all – photography is a fun game that validates the child inside us all. It’s only a matter of picking up a camera and going out there to explore – both yourself and the world!

Luca Curci – What are you currently working on?
Robindeep Singh – Currently, I’m working on many different projects. For my own project, I’ve released my first photography book and am working on a monthly magazine. Outside of that, I’ve been editing and colouring past work that I’ve shot; and capturing moving images. At night, I practice my skills in the darkroom.

LC – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
RS – I’m a first-generation American and the first to ever graduate from my family. This has affected my experience of the world quite vividly, and that’s not an exaggeration. I can’t truly call India my home because I would feel lost there. And in America, I’m not accepted.

LC – Which art themes do you pursue? What is your preferred subject, if there is any?
RS – The answer to this question goes hand in hand with the second one, I look at the peculiar and strange in a romantic way. That’s because I want to comfort the uncomfortable and make them comfortable feel uncomfortable. Of course, all of my pieces don’t solely suggest this and my attempts don’t always succeed. My preferred subject is a combination of beauty and fear: something you think you should look away from, but can’t help yourself from staring right at it.

LC – Do you use art to express something in particular? Is it like your medium of expression?
RS – I use art to express many different things, it just depends on how I’m feeling. For example, my b/w and colourwork suggest different means of expression.

LC – What is your creative process like?
RS – Here’s my process: Handroll my film. Put it in the camera. Wait. Wait. Wait. Ask me questions like: Should I take/make this photograph? Now how I go about taking/making that photograph depends on what the subject/print asks for. Sometimes there is a multitude of options to choose from. Develop the film. Review the images. A handprint in the darkroom (in both shooting and printing, I experiment a whole lot). Scan the print to the digital world.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this festival? How did it inspire you?
RS – Sarah (Sylvia is her name as a musician) approached me with this song and I couldn’t help but get obsessed by the idea of layering projections while shooting. We essentially edited while shooting, and Sarah kicked ass pulling the pieces together. We both love body language, it’s a form of communication that tells you more than words could ever tell.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
RS – I think the organization of your event is very well organized and provides an outlet for artists to thrive.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
RS – Yes! You all have been so generous towards my friends and me.

LC – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?
RS – I have no suggestions to provide you for now.