A painting by Anisha Alemao.
COLVA
A week-long art exhibition on ‘Goencho Saib, Goenchea Akaran’ featuring 21 professional Goan artists and 14 emerging young talents across religions and from surrounding villages of Borim will take place at the St Francis Xavier Church, Borim, from April 7, which commemorates the birthday of St Francis Xavier, patron of the Borim Parish.
The exhibition, which has been organised by the Parish Pastoral Council under the guidance of Borim Parish Priest Fr Victor Ferrao, will run from April 7 to 13 from 10 am to 5 pm, providing ample opportunity for visitors to engage with the artworks.
Being in the Jubilee Year, the parishioners of Borim have decided to also celebrate the Jubilee of the Artists. This art exhibition aims to influence artistic practices around St Francis Xavier, fondly called as Goencho Saib in Goa.
The exhibition intends to blend the spiritual significance of St Francis Xavier with the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Goa, creating a platform for local artists devoid of their religious bindings to express the depth of their relationship with the Saint. This inter-religious fusion of the sacred and the everyday highlights the true Goan ethos of being hospitable, conscious and harmonious living.
Featuring 21 professional Goan artists and 14 emerging young talents from the surrounding villages of Borim, the exhibition will offer a dynamic interplay of experience, expression and newer perspectives.
The exhibition aims to transcend the conventional depiction of St Francis as a distant figure from the past, instead bringing him into the present day, reflecting the enduring connection between the people of Goa and their Patron Saint.
By centring on both the sublime and the mundane aspects of Goan life, it provides a space for the artists to highlight the intimate profound reflection of the sacred and cultural bond that ties Goans to their Patron Saint. Thus creating an opportunity for both seasoned and aspiring artists to contribute to the legacy of Goan spirituality and creativity.
The unique approach taken by the artists—focusing not on who St Francis Xavier is, but on what St Francis Xavier represents to each individual artist—adds a deeply personal and introspective layer to the exhibition.
The artists choose to represent St Francis Xavier in myriad ways: through vivid landscapes reflecting the missionary work and travels of the Saint, through portraits that emphasise his relevance in the modern world. Also, significantly through abstract, symbolic and contemporary interpretations that capture the spirit of hope, devotion, celebration and resilience he embodies.
In a significant expansion of the event, the exhibition will also travel to parishes across Goa where St Francis Xavier is the patron saint, fostering a deeper connection with communities throughout the region.
This initiative resonates with the Jubilee 2025 theme, inviting participants to embrace the role of being Pilgrims of Hope, as it allows each artist to express their unique pilgrimage with the Saint, offering a rich and varied spiritual journey spreading the Good News through the universal language of art.
[The writer is a Painter/Printmaker practicing in his studio ‘Ray’s Atelier’ at Colva and presently working as Assistant Professor in Visual Arts at Nirmala Institute of Education, Panaji]
