After many group exhibitions, Shilpa Mayenkar is
finally going solo with a remarkable exhibition, titled, ‘Escada’, featuring 16
works of acrylic on paper and canvas. The exhibition is on display at Mumbai’s
Lakeeren Gallery till November 15, 2014. “I was waiting for a good opportunity
to hold my solo exhibition. The exhibition is curated by Lakeeren Gallery
itself. The gallery is always on the lookout for contemporary artists in India.
I visited the gallery six months back to see the space and how many paintings
would fit there. The exhibition has received a great response so far. One
interesting thing about the art scene in Mumbai is the Art Night Thursday which
is held on the second Thursday of the month. A group of Colaba
and Fort galleries remain open till
9.30pm and visitors are given a Mumbai art map to visit the different galleries
within walking distance,” says Shilpa, excited about ‘Escada.’
The
paintings feature different Portuguese influences in our everyday life that go
unnoticed. From chillies to cashews to the bright blue azulejos tiles that
adorn the facades of houses, Goan life is aptly showcased on canvas. One motif
used in this exhibition is the hard working ant. They are everywhere in the
paintings, making their migratory route from Goa to Lisbon or crawling up
behind the altar. “Most artists like to use the human figure, I like to show
ants in the animal form for their human like instincts,” adds Shilpa, who
completed her Masters in
Printmaking from The Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication in
Hyderabad.
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“There
are so many aspects of Goan life which were introduced by the Portuguese, like crochet work, missionaries who came to
introduce Christianity to Goa, cashews which are a must for tourists who come
to Goa and chillies which make one of the main ingredients of Goan cuisine. I tried to show the
continuation of this linkage through the reverse migration that is currently
taking place in Goa,” says Shilpa.
She
further adds, “The trend of migration now has people moving from Goa to
Portugal or Europe with the help of Portuguese passports. But I wanted to know
if it is necessary to cut the roots from our motherland and move away to earn
high salaries without thinking about one’s future or about the remainder of the
family in Goa. This reality hits hard when someone from our family or a close
friend decides to move away. It was my anxiety towards migration that inspired
me to have the exhibition which I named ‘Escada’, which means staircase to a
better future.”
Shilpa
has been working from her peaceful studio in Mandrem where she shares space
with her husband, artist Pradeep Naik. “Being likeminded, we discuss and have
our own opinions which give a different perspective to our work. He is my main
inspiration,” she concludes.
