January 6, Epiphany, is the feast of the Three Kings who were led by the star to the manger where Jesus lay as a newborn in Bethlehem. This marks the reluctant taking down of the Christmas crib and deco. “We Three Kings” is a Christmas hymn not only for Sunday (5th this Jan), closest to the 6th in Church parishes but internationally. A couple of friends wanted to catch the street lights and old-world charm of ingeniously decorated houses (green beer bottle Christmas trees). The now ever-growing Carol epicenter Convent Street took theirs down on the weekend but for those who saw it in its finery, it’s a wait worth till year end. For me who gets geared up just in time with the ornaments, Noël Éternel or eternal Christmas it is. I linger and push it forward! Meanwhile, in Old Goa, the closure of the exposition of the relics of Goa’s patron Saint Francis Xavier was watched live by devotees.
Evolving Eco Sub-cultures:
THE route was Ranwar, Veronica Street, Chapel Road, and then the beautifully lit passage to Waroda Road. What was startling was a cheery Hi to a lady yielded in angst about walkers. Not sure if there was an overkill of social media, organized tours that forgot the local sensibilities or the lady was battling with long Covid symptoms, or all three that led to her frustration and venting. It played on our minds.
Urbification:
A TERM that I coined witnessing the general erosion of culture giving way to an unreflective malaise called “development” and urban onslaught.
The tiny Gaothan has had the invasion of traffic chaos ever since the Sea Link got this tiny lane and several such capillaries clogged with wheels. All one can wish as a festive gift is these consumers are gifted with a sensitivity to at least stop the onslaught of honking. Oversized SUVs that swallow these spaces are the bane of residents who have seen their creek view of the Arabian Sea eaten up by real estate beneficiaries.
The Art of the Indian Lexicon
FONSECA With Savia: I often marveled at the Indic illustrations of greeting cards for Christmas, some batik, some on dried peepul leaf, and wanted to know more. On my wish list, if I could fly down to Goa, was a Walkthrough of the Exhibition, Fonseca: An Indic Lexicon, with the curator, Fulbright and Ministry of Culture India Senior Fellow Dr Savia Viegas, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Porvorim. Viegas is an academic writer and artist who received a grant from The India Foundation of the Arts to research the legacy of Angelo da Fonseca. She has extensively curated and is due to publish her monograph “Angelo da Fonseca: An Artist of his Time.” xchr.in | info@xchr.in
MGW Tug of Heart
THIS 9th is my leap day of the art year 2025. The “Save the Dates” have been pouring in. So many kick-ass previews to kick off MGW (Mumbai Gallery Weekend) in lieu or rather as a superlative extension of ANT’s gallery extended hours. Each one is more compelling than the other. It’s the collective adrenaline of MGA’s top-notch galleries DNA to us Art manic stalkers or as Chemould’s Shireen Gandhy puts it “hardcore.”
To pin the beginning of the circuit is a clincher in a bid to make the most of this feast. Central Byculla won over the West. It was Gourmani’s clay curation माटी कहे कु म्हार से | “A Dialogue on Creativity, Identity, and Language” by Artist Sandeep Manchekar at Nine Fish, Byculla and the portland of Bombay Galerie Isa’s Santiago Giralda, ‘Maps Of The Invisible’,
The Art Repast
FOR starters, there’s Shanti, Kasturi, Tarun & Sangeeta celebrating their 25th with resonance of their artists which include Sakti Burman, Jayasri, Maite Delteil, Paresh Maity, Anjolie Ela Menn, Baiju Parthan to name a few.
Atul Dodiya’s exhibition, Radio Ceylon Paintings to usher in 2025 at my go-to for definitive Art, Chemould Prescott.
Radhi, the fount of Artisans’ who keeps us creatively engaged with her bounty at the intersection of Art, Craft & Design. A Tribute to Eri Silk: A Fashion Show
Prasad Bidapa x NEHHDC with Master Weavers from the eight states of North East India. On the heels of the amazing textiles of the NEI (yes, I bought a stole with the 7 sisters and a brother weave to represent this tradition). Its MGW series brings in the Bauhaus echo of “Play becomes joy, joy becomes work, work becomes play” as Dutch artist Paul Beumer debuts his series of textile “paintings” drawing into the weaving tradition of the eponymous Madras Checks in Karūr, Tamil Nadu.
Sanjana and Kalpana’s Tao starts 2025 with Brain Rot The Life You Live? a solo show of sculptures and textiles by Viraj Khanna for MGW! The interplay of light and shadows with the curations there is a big draw for me.
AWM (Art & Wonderment Mumbai) who leads you through the jaw-drop awe these curations inspire has a walkthrough to cover Jhaveri, Aequo, Experimenter, and Chemould CoLab.
Art Juggle
NOW if this is a lot to read, trying to fit it in over four days till the 12th, is what keeps me in an artful bind. Another gem recommended by art veteran Prof (Dr) Rajeev Lochan who spearheaded NGMA in its glorious era. While I keenly await his memoir to hear the green room narratives in the art world, I hope to make it to his review of Jaidev Thakore’s retrospective at Akara Modern (behind Taj Palace, Colaba), I am torn between the 5-9 extended hours so a retro can wait and so can Akara Contemporary “Of Silence and White Noise” by Sathi Guin. The hub of Colaba’s art district including Apre has its umbilical curations that are a big draw as they are inclusive. Praveena’s Jamaat holds “embody” — a multi-artist exhibition curated by young Goan Wendy Amanda Coutinho.
Ballard Estate Artsert
FOR the days in between when it is not possible to catch up with the grand preview of ISA, there is an artist talk with Santiago Giralda on his solo exhibition “Maos of the Invisible” with art writer Shreya Ajmani. Gallerie Mirchandani +Steinrucke previews Kulpreet Singh’s Fossils of Force, their last find is still fresh in my mind, so a “must go.”
I am looking forward to the conversation between the city and art veteran Pheroza Godrej with Naresh Fernandes at DAG, “Once Upon A Time in Bombay” on the 10th. My vote goes to Saloni Doshi for having the 118 space preview “Sculpting Air” on the 10th. Following the walkthrough is an interaction between curator Sumesh Sharma with L N Tallur.
I daresay a pair of wings like the Swedish character Hoppsan is essential to imbibe this smorgasbord.
The Art of Saying YES to Yourself!
IT has taken decades of struggle to deal with nonsense, as if your brain has frozen into inaction. Looking back in disbelief you reflect that you beguiled yourself with hope. Guilt tripping is a thing and before you know it, you are trapped. Be kind to yourself and say “No.” Release them with gratitude, the greedy who you thought were needy. I created some beatitudes to fall back on and kept the 4 Ns as a guideline for mindful living.
Nirbhay, Nishok, Nischint, Nishank
Live without fear, regret, worry or doubt
Make your peace knowing the Konkani saying Ambeache rukhak pongrechi sal? Or Can you graft the bark of pangara on a mango tree? Stay you. Leave the crows in your soaring vision as the decimated dots of the past. Spend your energy celebrating life, the more art in your heart, the better. You were meant to be. You deserve to see your eyes mirror your happiness!
Bye to 2024’s lessons and a hello to 2025’s learnings. Keep walking art warriors….cheers to a lot of art amazement!