An exhibition of paintings titled Vismaya —wonder and awakening—previewed at Mahua Art Gallery recently. Goa, the rivera of India, has generated many artists and maestros.

At the preview Souza and Gaitonde were appreciated by Western art collectors and did not live in Goa. Souza the enfánt terrible of Indian art hails from the village of Saligao. His themes revolved around his Roman Catholic background.

Hanuman Kambli, head of Graphic Design at the Goa Art College, exposed to Wimbledon School of Art, London, showcased a ‘Burning Town’ in acrylic, which he said depicted people reacting to their environment.

Rajshree Thakkar, the founder member of Synchronicity—the pioneering group of young Goan artists—had a pictorial in mixed media titled ‘Stencil Birth’. “My work is an emotional response to unassuming simplicity, counterbalanced by form and colour interwoven in implicit themes,” she said. Liesel Cotta de Souza’s embroidery on fabric were most admired.

There were works by Vamona Navelcar, Theodore Mesquita and Yolanda Souza. Yolanda said, “I live in the real world, influenced by my roots, and that is apparent in my work.” Apurva Kulkarni  works with installations and digital films and his graphite drawings on paper evinced a lot of interest.

Hitesh Panekar’s ‘Devotee’ on Canson Paper and ‘Angel’ seemed like ethereal projections, contrary to the earthy theme of Vitesh Naik’s ‘Drunkards’ and ‘Temptation,’ portraying the essence of the Goan community.
Querozito de Souza blends browns and ochres in the texturing on his abstract nudes. Sonia Rodrigues and Rajendra Usapkar have meditative themes and figures.

Mohan Nayak’s portraiture of expressive eyes of the goatherd and goats are quite synonymous with rural Goa. Nirupa Naik’s works in acrylic on canvas gave room for imagination by the viewers and offered a peek into the evolving contemporary Goan art scenario.

On exhibit at Mahua, at Dollar’s Colony, RMV Extension, till October 10.