Rivers are called the
lifeline of humanity as life exists on the river bed and support, not just the
livelihood of a few individuals but entire villages. With the rivers following
through Goa, many villages are striving in agriculture and fishing and a
flourishing flora and fauna. The same reason Goans are fighting for the River
Mhadei. Its necessity is getting even more important with global climate change
and the decreased flow of water.
Back in 2018,
Bookworm Goa, curated a beautiful project, ‘The Nhoi: Goa River Draw project’
with Rhea D’Souza as its project manager and Liz Kemp, as a community artist
and consultant. After years of collaboration and smaller exhibitions, the
drawings created by over 500 villagers will finally be on full display at the
Art Gallery, Goa State Central Library, Panjim. The exhibition will be opened
on February 23 at 5 pm till 7 pm and from February 24 -26 from 11 am – 6 pm.
Speaking about how
this collaboration of such magnitude across the state come about, Rhea explains
that the Mhadei River was always important. “The Mhadei issue was burning even
then and we are just trying to connect people’s memories with the river. There
are several scientific studies that explain that building a dam will cause damage
to the ecology and we don’t even have to study a lot about it. Through this
exhibition, we want to create awareness and show how the river matters to these
villagers.”
The Nhoi workshops were co-supported by Goa State Central
Library, through the Directorate of Art and Culture. “Carlos Fernandes was the
curator of Goa State Central Library and he helped us get in touch with the
village libraries. We had our first meeting on February 27, 2018 with all the
libraries across the Mandovi-Mhadei River from which ten libraries supported
the project. We also had school libraries that were enthusiastic to be part of
the project. Through the meeting, we approached the librarians and they
introduced the concept back in the village. The first library to show interest
was a small library in the Sattari region, Sandipani Village Library, and
Suresh Zarekar, the librarian has been a great help,” says Rhea, an architect
and an art restorer.
Loaded with the paper and pastel colours, the Bookworm Goa team
headed to different libraries over the months to get the artwork that speaks of
the villagers true emotions towards the river. “Since the hinterland will be
most affected by the river, we had a lot of children, youngsters and even women
coming to the library to draw. There was no age group and children as young as
three years were also part of the project. Within half a day, the drawing would
be complete, which is a six metres by one metre drawing,” says Rhea.
Their imaginations, hopes and dream are forever captured in 14 panels
of great art and now the whole of Goa has an opportunity to visit the
exhibition and relate to their lives. No matter where one lives in Goa, somehow
the river has an impact on the Goan lives. ‘The Nhoi: Goa River Draw project’
is India’s largest single collaborative drawing.
The drawing are created using pastels on paper. Rhea says there
is a significance to the medium. “This is the first exhibition where all 14
original artworks on paper will be put on display. It is huge challenge to put
up these drawings due to its size. Pastels were the preferred medium for such a
big scale of drawing. Since it was a community project, people don’t hesitate
in picking up a pastel colour and drawing and there is a difference between
drawing with pencil on paper and drawing with pastel on paper. Through pastel
colours, they could pour out their feelings. Through their drawings, they want
to show some hope and the people’s power and drive to sae the Mhadei. It is a
very powerful message,” says Rhea.
Besides the exhibition, there will a live
art table for art lovers who would also like to be a part of ‘The Nhoi: Goa
River Draw project.’ So feel free to choose the colours that showcase your
feelings for the river and its waters that touch every aspect of a Goan life.