The Art Watch

Her vibrant canvases burst with colour and fantasy. Sonia’s work is at once deeply personal as well as firmly rooted in the Goan ethos. Some of her recent work titled ‘Daddy’s Princess’ evokes her sense of loss at her father’s recent death. Other works celebrate the Goan way of life and its cultural heritage through a range of canvases dedicated to Goan folk art forms. Adept in watercolurs, acrylics and oils, Sonia follows her heart when she paints – sometimes crossing over into the somber and mysterious and sometimes into a more light-hearted fairy tale world. With a BFA from the Goa College of Art, Sonia has really evolved as an artist. She has exhibited in India and internationally and has received a number of awards and honours for her work, including a Senior Fellowship from the Central Government. With a huge body of work to her name, Sonia’s artistic voice is uniquely her own.

This young artist has a bigger following than Goa realizes. I have only seen his work in private collections and over the last year alone, seen it in almost every art collector’s home I’ve been to in Goa! Hitesh hasn’t had a solo show in Goa yet although viewers would have come across his signature colourful canvases in multiple group shows. His creative spirit was sparked in childhood watching his mother put together her colourful patchwork quilts. Since then, it became a way of life and a profession. Hitesh did his Masters in Fine Arts from the prestigious Sir J.J. School of Arts in Mumbai and has a diploma in architecture as well. He says he finds and sees art everywhere across media and spaces and is always motivated to create something even better. Colour play is an expression of his mood and the world his canvas. Pen and ink, tile work, murals, oils, acrylics – he is accomplished in varied media and has even done the interiors of several homes. Hitesh has received a number of awards including the first prize from Goan Cultural Heritage Worldwide at the hands of legendary architect Charles Correa in 2001 and the Young Promising Artist Award from the Directorate of Art & Culture Goa for 2015- 16 among others. He is currently working on a museum dedicated to Goa’s cultural history. Already open to viewers by appointment, the museum is choc a bloc with artefacts and interesting memorabilia. Keep an eye out for this very promising artist!

Upbeat, enthusiastic and abuzz with ideas, Vitesh’s aesthetic is reflective of his spirit. Be it his Christ series or that of his tavernas –Vitesh’s work draws you to it effortlessly. Finely delineated figures, animals and birds abound in these delicately crafted images. There always seems to be a narrative underpinning this visual storyteller’s works that both stand out from the rest as well as connect. Vitesh is a BFA from the Goa College of Arts. He has been exhibited widely and has received a number of prestigious awards. Vitesh has illustrated two children’s books and done a number of murals for hotels and homes in Goa and across India. He is currently working on an upcoming solo show. Watch this young dynamic multi talented artist closely!

To see Norman drawing is a truly delightful experience. I first saw this young artist sketch a portrait in front of a live audience some years ago. Lines flowed with seemingly no effort as the portrait took form. Known for his skilful portraiture, Norman’s work has evolved since then. The figure forms a strong element of his work though and continues to fascinate the artist – whether through his prolific series of charcoal nudes or large oil canvases featuring couples and families. There is a strong Pop influence resonant in Norman’s images that continue to stay with viewers long after the show is over. Apart from spending hours and days sketching and painting, Norman is currently also pursuing his passion for photography and filmmaking.

Consistent and dedicated – this young artist is on the verge of great things to come. His signature laborious paint brushing on style has garnered Siddharth quite an enviable following among collectors. I first saw an impressively huge work of his featuring the iconic lion from the Kadamba dynasty at the Museum of Goa. On further enquiry I learned the name of the artist who had created this monumental work so painstakingly. Softspoken and gentle, Siddharth is an alumni of the Goa College of Art and also holds an MFA in Painting from the University of Hyderabad. There is always an element of visual drama in Siddharth’s works, which at the moment draw deeply from Goa’s historical and cultural heritage.