PANAJI
The Archive of Potential (Goan) Futures, an exhibition featured under the curated segment ‘Goa Familia’, showcases the latest edition of the ‘Goa Familia’ project, which aims to document the present state of Goa in an archive format for posterity at the ongoing Serendipity Arts Festival in Panaji.
Curated by Lina Vincent and Akshay Mahajan, the project takes inspiration from Jacques Derrida’s Archive Fever, balancing the act of preserving Goa’s cultural fabric while fostering public dialogue to envision possible futures.
It makes a case, for instance, through two contrasting photography exhibitions: one focusing on heritage homes and the other humourously critiquing the rise in the trend of ‘second homes’ in Goa.
“We wanted to focus on creating ‘archives of now’, and more than 20 individuals and collectives are part of ‘Archive of Potential (Goan) Futures’, creating a variegated compilation of stories and images from across Goa. Someone will look back 10 years from now at this wonderful body of material that came together. We have shifted our focus, looking at a very contemporary space,” stated Vincent.
Complementing their curatorial effort is a collaboration with the Museum of Christian Art (MoCA) for a special exhibition during the XVIII Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier.
“In true ‘Goa Familia’ style, we gathered personal stories, objects, and memories from the community. The sub-exhibition at MoCA at the Church of Santa Monica, Old Goa, has already sparked deep connections, and we’re thrilled to extend the Serendipity Arts Festival 2024 to a new location at MoCA,” Vincent said.
According to Mahajan, ‘Goa Familia’ currently explores various aspects, such as ace photographer Ulka Chauhan’s book The Memory Keepers and Future Seekers, which documents heritage homes in Goa, focusing on the people who inhabit them and not just the architecture.
Chauhan’s exhibition is juxtaposed with Niharika Chauhan’s Second Home, which critiques the phenomenon of second homes in Goa, highlighting how the state has become a hotspot for investment properties and holiday homes.
“We’ve created an immersive space where the past, present, and future intersect – through innovative displays, storytelling, and interactive elements. It’s a celebration of Goa’s living archive – an exploration of where we’ve been, who we are, and where we might go,” said Mahajan.
In its earlier editions, ‘Goa Familia’ collaborated with SAF to document Goa’s history through family archives and oral stories, leading to a series of exhibitions. The first, in 2019, was titled ‘Goa Familia’.
After a pandemic break, the curation focused on the stories of Panaji, ‘Families Are Like Rivers’, in 2022. The exhibition Let The Sound Linger (2023) explored music and theatre as core elements of Goan identity.
