The Artist Acquaintances

How often does one get a chance to interact on a one on one basis with Goa's more well known artists? Carpe Diem Art Gallery - Majorda is pleased to host "The Artist Acquaintances" - a weekly artist camp cum group art exhibition curated by Daegal Godinho and Swetlana Cardoso. Art enthusiasts, buyers and collectors will get a chance to view a work in progress as well as have a personal interaction with select Goan artists over the course of two months beginning from April '21.

The participating artists are: Bhisaji Gadekar, Ramdas Gadekar, Kausalya Gadekar, Chaitali Morajkar, Mohan Naik, Viraj Naik, Manjunaath Naik and Shripad Gurav.

The format of the project is such that each artist gets one dedicated week at the art centre during which they create one new artwork while simultaneously holding a private show of select artworks and being available for interactions with visitors to the gallery. Each artist makes two presentations - one at the start of his/her week (Tuesday) about their art journey and one at the end of his/her week (Sunday) about their latest creation. The entire project will end with a final group show that will include all the new works created by these 8 artists.

Bhisaji Gadekar: 6th - 11th April

Bhisaji is a sculptor and performance artist who enjoys integrating his work with site specific installations. He builds his performance through keen observation of his surroundings, integrating dialogues gleaned from his communications with people interacting in that space.

Bhisaji aims to continue focusing on his latest theme - The "absence and presence" of various layers that we carry with us at all times - be it memories, fears, freedomand more...During his week at Carpe Diem, he will build a performance art creation to be showcased at the end of the week using the art centre as his new space for discovery. Visit us, interact with him and find out more by attending the presentations that will be held.

Ramdas Gadekar: 13th - 18th April
“As an interdisciplinary artist I create my style through the integration of the strongest of my skills - namely print-making, murals and hand-built pottery. Through the medium of ceramics I express my views on various subjects close to me. As part of this project I have chosen to work in ceramics depicting the Portuguese influence on Goa."

Ramdasremind us of a lost Goa – a loss of peace and quiet, in the pitiless story of mass industrialisation.is nostalgic portray the passing phase of this fast-fading Goan lifestyle.

Kausalya Gadekar: 20th - 25th April
Kausalya paints cheerfully with soft colors in gentle hues of greens and blues.  These are often miniature style watercolour landscapes of Goa, but with a difference. She captures what lies beneath the stereotypical impression of what one seeks in Goa. The change – a Goa stained by irregular construction and thoughtless planning. She portrays a man-made world positioned against the natural world. Born in Goa, the artist ponders heavily on themes of space, belonging and injustice in addition to the lush greenery of Goa, that's increasingly vulnerable to degrading forces.
Over the week that Kausalya will spend at Carpe Diem she will be creating new art on canvas that focus on the birds native to Goa. Come, meet and share your thoughts too with her and get a glimpse of what runs through the artist's mind, heart and veins as she presents herself and her work!

Chaitali Morajkar: 27th April - 2nd May
Well known for her surreal works exploring themes of femininity and nature, Chaitali breaks away from unorthodox restrictions and thrives in dream-like imagery, that brims with possibility and optimism. According to her, love, affection, protectiveness, warmth and respect act as precedence in the formation of something positive, whether a passion for a cause, activity or even an intense feeling of warmth towards someone or something. She uses various elements derived from nature - flowers, insects, animals, visual forms or flanking human figures in a symbolic manner.

During her week at Carpe Diem in the last week of April, Chaitali will share her skill and knowledge with you during her presentation of her art journey on 27th April as well as through the interactions she will have over the week while she creates a new masterpiece that will be part of a final show later. Don't miss this opportunity to widen your understanding of art and to peek into the artist's mind!

Mohan Naik: 4th - 9th May

Mohan Naik, one of Goa's most well known artists has been painting and exhibiting for over 3 decades. The theme behind Mohan's artworks is believed to be one of the leading reasons behind his success as an artist. Rural imagery (that which Mohan experienced growing up), warm and vibrant colours coupled with various kind of textures tend to brighten up whichever space the artworks are placed in. This humble and down to earth artist began his career as a teacher but dared to dream differently and pursued art full time. Mohan's skills in working with difficult mediums such as oils and the quality and durability of his works have led to them often being exhibited alongside those of Indian masters today.

Mohan is the fifth artist in the lineup of "The Artist Acquaintances". Don't miss the short presentation by Mohan Naik on 4th May at 6 pm as he speaks about his years in the art field. Guests will also get a chance to see the artist in action as he creates a new work during his week at Carpe Diem. 

Viraj Naik: 11th - 16th May

Viraj is a nationally established painter and printmaker. His ravishing hybrid human-animalistic forms are a reflection of his passion for Greek mythology and that for his roots, Goa. He immerses himself  with the study of interspecies associations in turn inspired by ancient Egyptian depictions, Indian spirituality and Greek mythology. His works are a manifestation of the double beastly beliefs or "two-sidedness" that find place in  the social, cultural and political habitat of today and are often based on long term issues of the day.

Viraj, a graduate from Goa College of Art and a Masters from Hyderabad University will share is journey through a presentation on Tuesday 11th May at Carpe Diem and continue working on a new piece of art over the coming week and present the same on the 16th evening.

Manjunaath Naik: 18th - 23rd May

A deep pondering about Manjunaaths's art brings up the themes of life and fantasy. Some of his significant works are those that define love in different moods. He paints in bright colors of red, blue, green, pink, etc. His expressions open his inner self up and he sees the world differently.The pleasure of love is also noticeable. He says,"In my universe I am naked from inside and I look at this world - observing, feeling and capturing it in the archives of my moments in life."

Manjunaath dares to challenge beliefs and systems that are commonplace with the aim of forcing the viewer to ask uncomfortable questions that make them re-evaluate what is often taken for granted. Not for the faint-hearted, this artist will begin with a presentation of his art jouney on Tuesday 18th May and spend most of his week at Carpe Diem painting and interacting with those who care to spend time with him.

Shripad Gurav: 25th May - 30th May

Many of Shripad's artworks tell of Goa and it's stories of vanquishment under the Portuguese rule. As a narrator, he speaks of the archival, cultural, social and even economic histories that were witnessed. Macro and micro changes in the social fabric of Goa over four centuries of Portuguese governance – its faiths, clothing, cuisine, structure are what can be seen in his works. He is deeply fascinated with techniques of print making, an art form he often resorts to when capturing these stories.

On the 25th May Shripad will share with us what drove him to the arts and his fascination with his pet subjects. He will over his week with "The Artist Acquaintances" dedicate time to creation of a new art piece and to interactions with guests who drop by at Carpe Diem. There will be private showing of a select collection of his art and a final presentation of his new work on the 30th May.

The entire project will culminate in one grand group show at Carpe Diem in the beginning of June that will display all the new artworks created by these artists along with selected works of theirs. The curators hope to liven up the art scene and create new art aficionados in Goa through this interactive and artist-focused approach over these next few months. All are welcome and there will be no charges for any of the events associated with this project.

Click to view Time table

Bhisaji Gadekar

sculptor and

performance artist -

the first in our

weekly art camp

"The Artist Acquaintances"

is available

for a chat

with anyone interested!