'ZAGRANA' - Paintings show on Goa's night life
Photos: http://bit.ly/Zagrana
Venue: Kala Academy Art Gallery
Inauguration: April 8, 2011 at 5:30pm
Public viewing: April 8 - 9, 2011 - 10am - 7pm
The exhibition will be inaugurated by 89 year old Shri Vittal Devraj
Shirodkar(Dadi) the legendary 'vovio' singer at the Siolim Zagor. Dadi
has been singing the complete set of vovios at the night long Zagor for
the last 51 years. He is a living symbol of Goa's heritage and is the
fourth generation from the Shirodkar family to carry on the tradition.
The Siolim Zagor itself has come to symbolize Goa's many syncretic
traditions. The people of Siolim both Hindu and Christian, led by Dadi,
pray the rosary before they set out. The procession prays at every
wayside shrine be it Hindu or Christian.
'Zagrana' (night life in Goa), is Maria Bernadette Lia Gomes’ second
paintings show. This is a tribute to the varied facets of Goa’s life.
The colours sights and sounds that come alive after dark year after year
as witnessed and experienced by her.
The world over, ask anyone about Goa’s night life, and they will talk
about the nightclubs, casinos, rave parties, beach parties. Bernadette’s
works are a celebration of rave parties of a different kind. They are
solemn, festive, frolicsome, laborious or sacred occasions that the
people of Goa observe during the year. Some celebrations are held during
the day. Others are held under dark starry skies for reasons that were
best known to our ancestors.
Many of the ceremonies are dying out and may not be witnessed by the
next generation of Goa’s children. This is Bernadette’s way of
capturing her memories on canvas for the future generations.
Bernadette has a doctorate in sociology and takes interest in
anthropological aspects of Goa's communities. She taught sociology at
the Government College, Quepem, and has written extensively about Goa's
folklife. Painting is her hobby and is in a way, anthropology on canvas.
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