The Museum of Goa (MOG), located in Pilerne, creatively illustrates the rich history and culture of Goa. Mr. Subodh Kerkar, the Founding Director is of the opinion that “Many people including the educated, don’t have access to contemporary art and so this place was made to connect the common man to this type of art.”
Your first eye-catching impression as you enter are the towering sculptures. Adorning the walls are large pictures of fishermen and some exhibits are even about 7 metres long. The beautiful display of mussel shells of different shades transports you to an oceanic mode. To top it all there is even a mini-coconut mountain!
Every ‘nook & corner’ of the museum – balconies, stairways and even the elevator – have exhibits. Some simple but interesting objects are showcased, like a block of wood where approximately 100,000 fish were cut. The ‘grey room’ displays burnt paper art and other interesting things like the hundred-year-old ceramic plates which were placed on the ocean floor for 6 months and were naturally covered with oysters.
An entire section is dedicated to the life of hard-working Goan villagers. Crochet works depict creativity from humble origins. Artworks of Goan village life make one forget the busy urban environment. Even chillies are exhibited as it’s a part of the Goan diet. Other interesting features include a distorted moon drawing through an acrylic lens; and a dark room where you can command the ocean to recede by just waving your hand!
The museum is a great place to see the works of different talented people. They host lectures, workshops, exhibitions, debates, etc. Art forms of various kinds are welcome here like photography, painting, music, poetry, and much more. It’s a good platform for contemporary artists to interact with each other.
SHERYL GONSALVES I NT GOGOANOW.COM
Pics Credit – Shivang Mishra I NT GOGOANOW.COM
