When India Art Meet approached Nilesh Hazare in November 2023, to curate a group exhibition with Goan artists, he knew this was a moment to take Goan art to a wider audience. He contacted different artists who featured different styles in their paintings and formed Goan Colour Beats, a group of 13 artists, both established as well as those who will be participating in their first exhibition.
Dilesh worked as an art teacher in St Joseph’s Institute, Vasco for over 21 years and recently retired to concentrate completely on art. He was also active in the state, national and international art scene. Known for Goa’s first 3-D photographic exhibition, ‘Abhas,’ at Kala Academy, Panjim in 2006, Dilesh has exhibited his art in countries like Germany, Malaysia, Turkey, Bangladesh,
USA, Poland, Iran, United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea.
India Art Meet has been held in Kolkata as well as in Delhi for three editions and will be held in Mumbai for the first time. The exhibition will be opened at Nehru Centre Hall of Vision, Worli, Mumbai, on February 22, at 4 pm and will be on display till February 25.
'Goan Colour Beats comprises of Dilesh Hazare, Ajay Kothawale, Deepak Prakash Chari, Francis DeSousa, Laxman Bhikaji Chari, Mithila Kedar Upadhye, Nirupa Naik, Pietyz, Sadashiv V Parab, Sanjay Pundalik Harmalkar, Shivaprasad Kinalekar, Sudin Sonu Kurpaskar and Veenita Sadguru Chendvankar. “There are 73 artworks that will be featured as part of Goan Colour Beat. Our focus was on the quality of the work and besides sale of the artworks, we are looking forward to the art talks, demonstrations and exchange of ideas at a national level,” says Dilesh. Besides Goa, states like Kerala, Odisha and Rajasthan are also participating in the art meet.
“We formed this group with like-minded artists who have been creating artworks and exhibiting their works. While some are reputed artists who have been in the field for years and won accolades, there are also some who have not exhibited their works for an audience. When we go outside the state to attend art camps and residencies, we exchange ideas and broaden our perspective. There is a need for a platform for Goan art. At the Kala Academy, there is only an annual State Art Exhibition that combines all forms of paintings under one category. There is a need to have different exhibitions, for portraits, landscapes and graphic arts. This will help build the confidence of the artists,” concludes Dilesh.