In recent times, Goa has seen a confluence of
East-meets-West in various spheres; art being one such sphere. Colonial-era
homes, porches, to an extent churches, these are the places where one is most
likely to chance upon mosaic. A nightclub seems far more unlikely a location.
However, keeping the concept of mosaic ‘cool’ and ‘trendy’, Bianca Menezes has
managed to break into precisely that segment with her take on mixed-media
(merging art with paint), providing décor of this form to a formerly untouched
part of Goa’s artsy circle.
Dwelling on her beginnings, Bianca talks about how her time
in college was her first step forward, being her own intern and providing
interested individuals with customised works of art, which eventually led to a
trip that launched her into a world filled with a fascination for tiles. “In
order to make myself a little pocket money, I would accept orders for paintings
while I pursued my degree in fine arts. This was followed by my sojourn in
Portugal, where I learnt the art of making wall tiles.”
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Over time, Bianca has established herself as a go-to person
for mosaic, religious art, murals and work on canvas. Upon her return, Bianca
carved a niche for herself, with her work being showcased as part of the
fixtures at some of Goa’s establishment of repute in social and hospitality
sectors, including her timeless murals at Clube Harmonia and Holiday Inn.
Her latest work, wherein she teamed up with Britain-based
mosaic specialist Anya Burzec, (who is currently away in the UK) decorates the
walls at Tito’s Courtyard, a part of the legendary Tito’s chain, Goa’s pioneers
on the nightlife circuit. The work one sees there is a reflection of her own
home in Verna that is studded with similar artefacts, pieces of art blurring
the lines between matte and gloss, all while accentuating her signature style.
“I met Anya Burzec through common friends and hit it off
immediately. We then discovered that through our collaborative efforts, we could
merge out two styles (mosaic+paint) to work with mixed media, and create a
hitherto unexplored style,” Bianca says. However, their work and ideas took
them well beyond the boundaries of mere regular artistic platforms. They have
gone beyond galleries and installations, with their work slowly gaining
visibility in Goa’s massive nightlife. Their efforts at venturing into the
segment first saw the light of day in 2013, when Anya was working on the logo
for popular south Goa hub, Firefly Goan Bistro Bar in Benaulim. Upon working on
the mural on the wall, Anya stepped back and realised it still needed a little
‘something’. At that point Bianca pitched in with a few ideas, and the two
haven’t looked back since. Their latest work at Tito’s Courtyard in Baga is yet
another uniquely conceptualised idea, and is a three-dimensional piece of art,
with mosaic and paint, and just another chapter in what promises to be a unique
take on age-old art forms.
Reflecting on her joint project with Anya, Bianca asserts
that a positive spin on feminism does pay off. “An artist cannot survive
without marketing their wares. If one wants to pursue art as a profession there
are manners in which this can be achieved intelligently. Two or three women can
share an exhibition, which aids in cutting costs and maximising the profit
margins involved. There are several art galleries that are willing to help
artistes display their work in exchange for a commission. If we women help each
other, the sky is the limit.”
