When Subodh Kerkar creates a piece of work, there is a deeper meaning to it with which evoke different emotions. A conceptual sculpture artist and the founder of Museum of Goa, Pilerne he creates work that can be conversation starters. His latest idea for a performance installation is centred on women and the sari. Titled as ‘Naari in Saree’, Kerkar and his team are planning to create a performance installation working with over a hundred women in sarees on Morjim Beach on September 25 at 4 pm.
Ten years ago, he created another
performance installation on the beach with fishermen. The works of that
installation are now displayed at various venues including the Dabolim Airport
in Goa and the Adani Head Office in Ahmedabad. The photograph ‘Keel’, from his
series ‘Fishermen and the Ocean’, which was clicked by Kerkar himself, was
selected by a panel of twelve Royal Academicians for the world’s oldest and
largest open exhibition since 1769, London’s Royal Academy of Art Summer
Exhibition.
‘Fishermen and the Ocean’ is a photographic series through which
Kerkar explores the relationship between the fishermen of Goa and the sea. “I
believe that the State of Goa without fish is like fish without water. It is
the inseparability of the lives of the fishermen and the ocean that inspired
me. I wanted fishermen to be a part of the installation, unfortunately, it was
not possible to get them ready for the shoot as they go for fishing every day
without fail. I had used labourers who were dressed as fishermen and I worked for
the whole day with them. I wanted to show the connection that the lives of the
fishermen have with the ocean,” says Kerkar, who has been in the art scene for
over 37 years.
Kerkar has also worked on an installation on sarees in the past.
“Twenty five years back, I saw a group of around 100 women wearing sarees and
sitting on the roadside with sickles in their hand. I spoke to them and found
out that they were from the border area of the state and every year in the
month of October, they travelled to Goa to harvest the fields before heading
back home and reaping their own crops. They travelled from the Ghats from the
neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. My spontaneous response was
to photograph them,” reminisces Kerkar.
He further adds, “I bought a hundred Ilkal sarees from Belgaum
and hung them from the palm trees which showcased the celebration of labour. A
noted photographer asked me whether I was selling sarees.”
Morjim is the place to be for this upcoming performance
installation. Those who want to participate have to fill in an online
registration Google form. They should arrive at the venue in a saree and wear
footwear suitable for walking on the beach. The performance will be recorded
with cameras and drones. Each participant will receive a photograph of the
installation signed by the artist.
“There is no age group for the women participating in the
installation. However, there will be certain movements which will be performed
according to their age groups. We are hoping to get at least 4-5 choreography
movements like the form of an eye representing the ogling of women. So, I’ll
need women to walk in a circle to give the shape of the eye. Morjim was the
best beach in North Goa as it was conducive for this activity. When there is
low tide, there are large patches of wet sand which creates good reflections. I
am hoping to get at least three hours of good photography depending on the
weather and lighting,” explains Kerkar.
Gunjan Mitra is the coordinator and the social media consultant
for the installation and she is working closely with Kerkar for the execution
of the project. “There are over a 100 women who have registered for the
performance and they are many more who are enquiring about it. We also have
women who are promoting saree on Instagram like Nari in Saree and Saree Speak
who will be joining us. There are also women who are travelling to Goa from
other parts of the country to participate in the performance,” says Mitra.
Who
knows, you might be in the next photograph that you see in a prominent place in
the state and you can point and say what a lovely time you had at the Morjim
beach in a saree.