The Goa Open Arts is back with a new group art show titled ‘A Dream in the Balcao’, which is currently on at Villa 259, Assagao. NT BUZZ details
CHRISTINE MACHADO | NT BUZZ
Since its founding in 2019, Goa Open Arts (GOA) has become integral to supporting and growing the arts in the state. Its latest art exhibition, the first of the new year, features the works of 16 Goa-based artists, representing a range of artistic mediums, including painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, and photography.
The show, titled ‘A Dream in the Balcao’, references to how the start of a new year often inspires inner reflection, as we let go of the past and begin a new chapter. “We are balancing our personal thoughts and resolutions with the hubbub of activity and frenzy that accompanies this transitional period. Some of us find ourselves caught in a limbo between the old and the new,” explains co-founder of Goa Open Arts (GOA) Sitara Chowfla, adding that thus, she felt that the ‘balcao’ was a nice metaphor for this ‘in-between’ space. “The ‘balcao’ also has a very special meaning in Goa – it’s more than just a porch or balcony – but an important ‘social’ space in a traditional house,” she says.
Alongside this, through the exhibition, she says, they also wanted to emphasise the Goa connection. In fact, many of the artists in the show draw inspiration from their home in Goa. “They reflect on the beautiful landscapes and the threat to natural ecosystems due to the overabundance of careless development projects. Several artists also reference local traditions, customs, culture, and the history of Goa, as well as the natural life of the forests and oceans,” says Chowfla, adding that there are also artists who explore other subjects and have creates more abstract works.
Artists such as Ashish Phaldesai, Ayesha Seth, Dipteh Vernekar, Pradeep Naik, Shilpa Mayenkar Naik, and Nishant Saldanha have created pieces specifically for this event.
While the show has works of artists that they have worked with in the past, they have also included a few new artists, with the aim of expanding their community slowly. “This year, we are showcasing Vihang Nagvekar, a recent MFA graduate with wonderful paintings, and Meenakshi Nihalani, an artist who works with textile and embroidery, for the first time,” says Chowfla, who has also curated the show.
The exhibition also aims to develop the art collector community in Goa by offering a range of local artworks at affordable prices. Chowfla states that Goa is in a growth phase, with both locals and new residents becoming increasingly cosmopolitan. “Our objective with this exhibition is twofold: to nurture a small but dedicated local collector community through regular, well-curated, and reasonably priced exhibitions, and to showcase the work of Goan artists to collectors outside the state through our catalogue and online sales. We believe both can be achieved with consistent effort over the years,” she says.
Following this exhibition, GOA, in collaboration with Sunaparanta-Goa Centre for the Arts, will organise the annual Catalyst Grant Exhibition in April. This marks the fifth year of the grant. GOA is also working on a book to commemorate this milestone. “Also, we hope to host more exhibitions and community-based programmes later in the year,” says Chowfla. “We will also begin curating and fundraising for the next Goa Open Arts festival in 2026.”
(The exhibition is on view till February 2)
