A unique exhibition is on display at Museum of Christian Art, Old
Goa which focuses on a single object, an 18th Century Bible. Cautiously removed
from its casing, it was opened to viewing for a select few artists, who would
observe the engraved works in the bible and select the subjects they would like
to work on. Aptly timed for Advent season, the exhibition is curated by Lina
Vincent and is titled, ‘Engraved Treasures Part I,’ Contemporary Responses to
18th Century Prints from the MoCA Collection.
Speaking about the process, Lina Vincent says. “We built a focus
around imagery reflecting the birth of Christ and his young life, to
commemorate the time of Christmas. In the process, each of the artists interacted
with the material at multiple levels – through a physical plane, with the book
and its relevance as a text; through the history of European art and
printmaking; from the point of view of the legacy of the printed page and
publishing; and through the collective contemporary experience of being in Goa,
a former Portuguese colony that reveals a complex mingling of cultures.”
The artists include Vijay Bhandare, Yolanda De Souza
Kammermeier, Viraj Naik, Asavari Gurav, Lester Silveira, Loretti Pinto, Nishant
Saldanha, Verodina De Souza and Onkar Kshirsagar.
“Goa’s history coincides with centuries of trade and commerce,
global power shifts, political and religious advocacy and the rise of new
economies, including that of the Indian nation. This Bible, as a powerful tool
of communication, a carrier of religious knowledge, and as a piece of art,
journeyed far, becoming part of the collection in Goa. This compilation of
artwork sees its visual contents being translated through different sets of
minds and eyes, within nine different reactions and interpretations,” says
Lina.
Vijay Bhandare is a printmaker, painter and designer. Speaking
about his etching, Arrival’, Vijay says, “This etching/aquatint print is about
the arrival of the 18th century Holy Bible in Goa. The inspiration for the
group in the foreground depicting the faithful, carrying Baby Jesus (Menino
Jesus), is derived from the original engraving illustration from the Bible,
displayed in the Museum of Christian Art, is used here as a metaphor. The Bible
is so delicate and fragile, that it gave me the impression of that of a
new-born baby. In The background, among the coconut grooves, is the iconic St
Cajetan’s Church, one of the landmark structures of Goa.”
Yolanda de Sousa Kammermeier’s ceramic like effect on canvas
with relief and high gloss has become her trademark. “My works are based on
readings and stories from the Bible, as told to me by my grandmother when I was
a kid. I remember it was a Portuguese Bible with lovely images that stay with me
to date. Those that made a huge impact on me are those I chose to retell in my
own language of expression. I have done this through pen and ink sketches,”
says Yolanda.
Architect Lester Silveira’s forays into photography revolves
around the documentation of heritage buildings in Goa and Bangalore. “Light has
always played a defining role in art and architecture. Various biblical
illustrations, like the ones presented in the Vulgate, used light as a critical
component to convey the presence of God, or the Holy Spirit, usually through
rays of light bursting through the clouds. Similarly, in church architecture, a
divine atmosphere was created by channeling light through various spatial and
structural configurations like domes, vaults and clerestories,” says Lester. In
this series, he explores the relation between light and architecture, and how
it is used in the Churches of Goa to manifest the presence of God and inculcate
a mystical ambience within the space.
Verodina de Sousa’s passion for sculpture can been seen through
her large-scale works in prominent places and churches. A technique she
developed with hard work and persistence of mixing traditional and modern,
developing a unique way of executing large scale works. She has captured the
spiritual aspect through elongation, refinement and a minimalistic approach in
detailing. Through stylization and animation, she has brought alive various
narrative elements depicting the earlier life of Christ. The colours of the
ceramic are earthy and soothing, enhancing the human aspect, of the life of
Christ when He walked the earth.
“The
context of the Bible, it brings to mind how differently we interact with text
and image in our present, virtually-directed times. The touch of yellowed
pages, the smell of old ink and paper, the beauty of hard covers and elaborate
binding – these experiences are few and far between. The role of a museum in
conserving and showcasing priceless objects like these that are embedded in
culture, is priceless. These histories are brought back to us through
exhibitions like these, that present varied entry points, as well as points of
departure, for the artists and viewers,” concludes Lina. The artworks will be
on display till January 15, 2023 at the Museum of Christian Art, Old Goa.
