Patricia Ann Alvares
Looking out towards a country that influenced its
ethos for over four centuries, the Goan Balcão artists are bringing to bear their individual
interpretations on the occasion of the National Day of Portugal being
celebrated today.
To recap, the
genesis of the Goan balcão artists arose from renowned installation artist and
curator, Subodh Kerkar’s understanding and interpretation of the quintessential
balcão of the Portuguese era. “The balcão is an important feature of the
Indo-Portuguese houses in Goa. The traditional houses of the Hindu elite during
the pre-Portuguese era were ‘inward’ looking. The houses had a central
courtyard called ‘Rajangan’ around which was built a verandah called ‘Chowk’. All
living quarters opened into the ‘chowk’. The family, especially the womenfolk,
restricted themselves to this area, away from the public. In contrast, the ‘outward’
looking approach, which
the Neo-Christians adopted, translated into a new architectural language. The
chowk shifted outside the house and became a balcão, where the family,
including the women of the house, would gather, gossip and watch the world pass
by. Balcão became a symbol of liberation and of modernity,” Subodh explains.
The topic bears
even more relevance on the National Day of Portugal. “The subject of Portuguese
influence on Goan culture is very complex, with numerous currents and
undercurrents. It is also a very sensitive issue with some sections of Goan
society. Creating an exhibition dealing with this subject was a challenging
task. I am sure that the show opens up a dialogue between the viewers and the
Portuguese history of Goa and peels off layers of time to reveal the origins of
our cultural identity,” he maintains, equally proud of the fact that Goa has
produced some of the best known stalwarts in the field of visual arts like VS
Gaitonde, Francis Newton Souza and Antonio Xavier Trindade as well as several
well-known contemporary artists. However, as curator, Subodh continually
strives to give the present generation of Goan artists the recognition they so
richly deserve. As curator of the ‘Balcao’ show, he has brought together some
of the most talented Goan youngsters.
To young Siddharth, the exhibition affords an opportunity to liberate
his artistic aspirations. Interpreting his work, ‘Wing’, he personifies the
slippers, which once walked miles and drifted through vast oceans, with the desire
to fly.
To a more seasoned artist like
Kedar Dhondu, his video projection, ‘One Day These Will No Longer Be Lived’,
looks at the rot that has set in physically and socially as these grand houses
and balcãos bite the dust.
But Harshada Kerkar believes that
one can be liberated from these shackles and take flight with the help of
knowledge interpreted by her painting of a girl reading a book in the form of a
bird. “It reminds us of Jonathan Livingston Seagull and how freedom can be
achieved,” she avers.
As the artists break free of the
shackles from their view on the balcão,
they bring together another creative expression.
Box:
Artists in the Balcao
Aadhi Vishal
Diptej Vernekar
Harshada Kerkar
Kalidas Mhamal
Kedar Dhondu
Santosh Morajkar
Shilpa Naik
Siddharth Gosavi
Siddharth Kerkar
Subodh Kerkar
Vaishnavi Kitlekar
Viraj Naik
Vitesh Naik
(The exhibition, ‘Exploring
Portuguese influences on Goan ethos’, will be held at the Portuguese
Consulate, Altinho from June 10 to 17, 2015, between 5pm to 7pm).
