Goa has always
formed a strong context to Yolanda De Sousa’s work. And even in her most recent showing ‘An Alma E A
Vida’, the artist’s 22nd solo exhibition mounted at her gallery Art Chamber,
this passion for Goa shines through each and every work.
The things that
bother her, the facets that inspire her, the aspects that anger her – it’s all
here, transmuted in Yolanda’s signature style. Her ceramic-style artworks
reflect a deep anxiety over what Goa has become. From the innocent idyll of her
youth to a suddenly busy tourist destination overrun by rampant construction
and unbridled greed – Goa has changed and largely for the worse.
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Emphasises the
artist, “Like the title suggests, this show of mine borders around life and the
soul. Living in today’s world is a huge effort as we have lost sight of what’s
right and what’s wrong. As in some of my previous exhibitions ‘Faces and
Phases’ in 2005 and ‘See it my Way’, 2012, this show also deals with facing the
painful reality that we have lost what was once a peaceful place, where peace
loving people lived. Not anymore. It is a fact that one finds hard to digest
but one has to swallow. What’s really disturbing is that we are changing and
losing that feeling of oneness that was once an example to the rest of the
country.”
This uneasy thematic
concern forms the core of the show and is exhibited in a variety of intriguing
ways – through paintings and installations, a few even based on verses the
artist wrote as long ago as 1986. The medley of images is in her typical
textured style, technically sound and thematically diverse. Some works touch
upon the loss of innocence through the menace of substance abuse, like in ‘Life
of Puff Poof’, while others find inspiration in religion. Yolanda hopes and
believes in the power of religious teachings to unite rather than divide. She
takes on the Ten Commandments in one painting, and says, “It’s not promoting a
religion but sharing teachings that any person can relate to via their own
beliefs.” ‘Of Torture and Mercy’…or ‘Gafanhoto’ (grass-hopper, in Portuguese)
is based on the seven deadly sins as also the work, ‘Senhor de Si’.
Still other works
touch upon the difficulty of arranged marriages. Yolanda explains, ‘Agua
Ardente’ reflects on how tough it is to handle arranged marriages. Then there
is ‘Pretendente’, a young man who is forwarded as a good marriage prospect and
‘Segundo Dia’ celebrations on the second day of marriage – very Goa these. Some
works touch upon our carelessness towards the local dogs and the blindness towards
cattle roaming the streets, and a few other issues I come across as life goes
by.”
It’s
not all doom and gloom though. The celebrated artist’s natural vivacious spirit
is reflected in her vibrant art. There is an entire series on music – of Goan
musicians playing on local instruments. “I believe all is not lost. We still
have music in our soul and goodness in our hearts. If we only can arrest the
destruction and put a stop to evil, so happiness peace and goodwill surface
once more in Goa,” hopes Yolanda, “It is never too late for anything positive
