Deby Cann is a self taught artist working from Soundworks Studio Arts Hub in Marrickville, and Iluka in Northern NSW. Deby’s practice has developed through immersion in creative environments in Australia, the UK and Europe. Deby works alongside her partner Alan Skipper through their brand Recycletastic and good friends The Salons, an independent micro organisation creating unusual arts practices through sustainable practice. More recent shared projects continue to develop with good friends and musicians Ethan from Zenith Paltrow and Rivkah from The Salonistas. In recent years, and as a result of this joint work, Deby’s practice has extended from collage artworks and cards to include album covers and collage animation for short film/music video. Deby’s upcoming exhibitions include August Artist in Residence at Hopsters Cooperative Brewery Enmore, Poor People Co Won’t Somebody Please Think of The Men at Tap Gallery Surry Hills 10-16th August and Soundworks Arts Hub Marrickville Arts Party and Exhibition 5th September.

Can you share some of your artistic journey with us, and the influence of each place or country you have spent time in.

Over the years I’ve refined and honed a style that allows an intuitive practice to flow freely. I find it challenging to express my thoughts in words, my expression is fluid and free using images and cutting. I use satire and burlesque as a way to move beyond the difficulties I experience with global issues and how this manifests in my daily life. It facilitates a new way of expression that allows me to channel rage and frustration using a calming and healing process. I’ve connected with creative individuals and communities in the places and countries I’ve lived, sharing conversations and learning about differing cultural perspectives and influences. I’ve sourced imagery from my travels which adds an element of nostalgia to artworks. I’m eternally frustrated by the under representation of women identifying artists globally.

What do artist collectives provide compared to solo artistic practice for you?

Over the past 10 years I have been involved in artist collectives including Iluka Emporium, Incube8r Melbourne, The Salons, Soundworks Arts Hub Marrickville and Recycletastic 189 Enmore. Recycletastic 189 on Enmore Road evolved organically, through community connections, collaborations and conversations, from an exhibition and sale of artworks space to an inclusive third space and creative event space. Artist collectives facilitate community connection and create a feeling of being deeply embedded in local community, a part of something bigger and an incubator for fabulous ideas.

Collaboration is an important dimension to your practice. What is it about collaboration with others that matters to you?

What I love about collaboration is its ability to create a shared space, a liminal place where creativity, growth and change happens through conversation, trust and shared ideas. It’s the magic that happens through interaction. The inspiration for continued growth comes from connection with people of all ages, in particular younger creatives, and from queer and intersectional feminist spaces where people are living lives of love and kindness, beyond gender constructs, and are creatively inspired to explore and express their authentic selves. 

Your art practice has a strong sociopolitical agenda. How does feminism manifest in your practice, and what do you propose as alternatives to the dominant social order of patriarchy?

My artworks evoke my utopia of a world devoid of patriarchy. I don’t have the answers to the alternatives but I believe creating safe, inclusive spaces for connection, collaboration and expression in all forms will create the fierce magic needed to find alternatives to outdated rules, laws and traditions based in patriarchy. The consequence being equality, safety and human rights for all as well as an environment that is sustainable and safe now and for future generations.

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