Nostalgia tends to evoke feelings and memories of yore. Living in Dubai, Joseph C Dias has stirred the history cup and the young and old, are reminiscing about the good old Goan days through his mesmerising caricatures that depict various traditions and the quintessential ways of living- the way our elders went about their daily routines.
It is thus no surprise that Jodi’s Art has become the rage on various social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp and one is taken back to a time when sitting on balcaos or local taverns and tintos was the norm.
“I suppose I’ve always wanted to have something like Jodi’s Art, a brand and artistic sanctuary that I could associate with my name and legacy. But such a desire could never truly stimulate the required motivation. The facebook page, Jodi’s Art, formed as a consequence of my passionate desire to show my children the course of their bloodline and the grandeur of their ancestry, aspects that they haven’t been privy to due to their upbringing in Dubai,” said Joseph.
He felt it thus became paramount that the cultural education and enlightenment of his sons, direct proponents of his legacy, be undertaken through the way he knew best- art. The advent of social media allowed not exclusively for the instruction and amusement of his children, but for a methodology other parents around the world could use to demonstrate what it means to be Goan – was his take on the profound effect social media has had on his hometown and the Goan Diaspora .
He spoke about how humour is as much a characteristic of his art as education is, causing a more enjoyable experience for those who visit the facebook page. He reflects and says he cannot begin to explain the satisfaction he gets from having someone message him about how much joy a certain post has brought them and how it is all extremely rewarding.
“It goes without saying that Goa, my beloved birthplace and the bastion of my fondest childhood memories, has an incredible influence on my work,” added the artist.
When asked what was the motivation behind his artwork, Joseph attributed that a significant portion of inspiration was drawn from his experiences at Loyola High School in Margao, and then in his pursuit of higher education at the Parvatibai College and consequently Bombay University during his Bachelors of Architecture.
“Whilst the vigour of youth still swept through my bones, Goa provided the perfect domicile for empirical expansion as well as the nurturing of my artistic visual library. The city of Margao and the village of Utorda especially, places of particular importance with regards to the aforementioned, contribute perhaps more meaningfully, to my understanding of who I am as a person – both then and now,” added Joseph.
Explaining his first experience, Joseph said he always had his own unique style of caricature since his childhood. Reminiscing about his first venture into the world of caricature and cartooning, he recalled that they were made when h drew amusing pictures of his teachers for his classmates as a way to enliven mundane classes in school. “I soon garnered a reputation of artistic tomfoolery that I carried proudly all through my growing years. Even now, caricature is a way for me to tap into a reservoir of youthful exuberance and enthusiasm,” beamed Joseph.
“It fills me with great pride to mention that ‘Goa 1556’ has recently published a set of view cards on Goan life illustrated by me. The reception was so well received that I’ve illustrated another two sets that are ready for publishing,” said Joseph.
When asked about his future plans, Joseph said that his current projects are all ones that are undertaking the initial stages of development, forming the foundation of any future undertakings. “One thing I can say for certain is that I’d like to soon publish a graphic novel based on my adventures in the village of Utorda, where most of my holidays were spent growing up. My earlier works, the novel Dona Paula in specific, comes as direct product of my experiences in Utorda and my interactions with my wise grandmother, Ritinha. Just the thought of similar projects excite me, but I must take things one step at a time,” concluded the popular artist.
