Internationally
renowned artist Francis Newton Souza’s grandson Solomon Souza is in town and he’s painting up a
storm! The 26 year old London-born Jerusalem-based street artist is in Goa to
paint wall murals of iconic Goan personalities for Icon, part of the Mundo
project curated by Vivek Menezes for the Serendipity Arts Festival, 2019.
The
young artist has been in town a few weeks and already changed the mood and vibe
of several neighbourhoods around north Goa with his vibrant art. His subjects
so far have included the wonderful Indian poet Eunice De Souza; the Jazz
musician Chic Chocolate and the distinctive senior artist Vamona Navelcar,
among others. For the International Film Festival of India, he painted the
legendary Lata Mangeshkar in conversation with fellow Goan Anthony Gonsalves,
famous for being the inspiration behind the hit song “My Name is Anthony
Gonsalves” from the Amitabh Bachchan movie Amar Akbar Anthony. The mural has
created a stir at IFFI with a global audience stopping by to pose against and
enquire about what is going on.
And
this is the beauty of Solomon’s art, as he engages the audience with his
dynamic painting style. Passers-by are instantly curious and want to know who
this maverick artist is and what he’s painting. As part of the project, the
curator and artist have tried to place these portraits in context, in areas
that bear close association and meaning to the subject. When Solomon painted
the portrait of Vamona Navelcar in the pretty village of Pomburpa, for
instance, a large number of the 90 year old artist’s neighbours and friends
gathered around to narrate stories and anecdotes related to Vamona. Assisted by
17 year old Anisya Sheth on this particular wall mural, Solomon painted Vamona’s
portrait in the presence of the living legend. Propelled in synergy with Mac
Vaz of Madame Rosa distillery, the historic moment underlined the power of art
to bridge generations and form a timeless legacy. Apart from generating a great
deal of interest in graffiti art, Solomon Souza is providing a whole generation
of millennials an insight into the lives of these towering Goan personalities.
The instantly instagrammable wall murals also have far reaching effects.
Present to fete Vamona at the painting session, MLA Glenn Ticlo promised to
gain the unsung senior artist due recognition for his immense contribution and
artistic legacy and advance his name for a much deserved Padma Shri.
Renewing interest in and awareness about the eminent personalities he is painting, Solomon Souza is creating a stir across Goa as he continues to pay artistic homage to these icons. Do watch out for this brilliant young spray painter. He might be spotted in your neighbourhood next!