Moving with the facile ease of an accomplished artist,
Inacio Alvares’s inspirations are tempered by his love for a Goa that is fast
disappearing from the scene. His recent exhibition in December, ‘Goa
Yesterday’, was a move in this direction. “Through my art I want to recreate
the old cultural traditions of Goa,” avers this artist, whose quest to
recapture the past was not an easy one. “I went to the villages in search of
toddy tappers; I then got them to pose in the traditional outfit; photographed
and then painted. It was a difficult task. Similarly, I got youngsters to pose
in the lakes catching fish, women eating rice gruel in the fields, boys playing
‘godde’ and so on,” he elucidates. His efforts have apparently been worth it.
Not only have visitors, especially those from abroad, carried away such
precious memories of Goa, but Goans themselves have evinced more than a cursory
interest. “Former Ambassador to Portugal, Bosco Antonio Menezes was captivated
with the one on toddy tappers. Apparently, 40 years ago, the coconut grove in
front of his huge house in Agacaim was always teeming with toddy tappers. Now
they are difficult to find. He bought this painting and placed it in a window
facing this grove to remind him of the old days,” explains Candolim-based
Inacio, whose first exhibition was held in 2009.
Terming himself as a realistic artist who specialises in
landscapes, portraits and murals, Inacio imbues a touch of imagination in his
work. “Although my paintings are realistic, imagination plays a big role. If I
am doing a portrait, then I will embellish it with a landscape or some memory
of Goa in the background. This has been most appealing to foreigners, who would
like to take away a memento of Goa,” avers Inacio, whose works feature in
private collections across Europe, USA, the Middle East and even Russia.
Essentially bright and happy in content, his works on mixed
media – canvas, paper, acrylic, pastels, crayons, oil and water colours, find
their genesis in his love for music. “I have love for the softer music. If I am
doing a country scene then I listen to music that evokes that image. Similarly
with portraits, I prefer romantic and instrumental music and if its murals
which I generally do in churches and shrines like those in Dabal and Candolim,
then I prefer the spiritual.” The authenticity and popularity of his portraits
lie in his ability to delve into the personality of the subject. “When I do
portraits, I try to explore the story behind the face,” he explains.
But Inacio knows his success story would not be possible
without the support of his own creative family, especially his elder brother Fr
Luis Alvares, as he grew up in the verdant environs of Nuvem. Teacher Lea at
Holy Rosary Convent Nuvem and Principal Pereira of Millu’s Institute, Margao
have been his guiding force. Even as he went to seek his fortunes in the Middle
East, he eventually returned to a land he is proud to be a son of.
