PANAJI
In the run-up to the Festival, the Serendipity Arts Foundation has selected four unique projects by Goa-based artists ” Ruturaj Parikh, Pakhi Sen, Kalpit Gaonkar and Divesh Gadekar ” granting them each Rs 3 lakhs as part of its public art grant to create unique installations under the theme ‘The Island That Never Gets Flooded’.
The Grant aims to enable Goan artists to suffuse art into the urban landscape of Panaji. Parikh’s project ‘Children’s Pavilion’ in the Art Park promotes eco-friendly resources for engaging children, Sen’s project crafts an immersive ‘bioscope’ installation focusing on Goa’s khazan lands. Gaonkar’s project is an augmented reality installation that revives 'Kasmakaden', a heritage site in Canacona, symbolising past-present connections and uniting villagers. Gadekar’s project ‘Panaji in My Ears’ is a sound installation that merges conchology, acoustics and Panaji's soundscape. The Festival has 10 expert curators this year across the six disciplines, offering attendees a wide range of programmes and exhibits to choose from.
From the Culinary Arts discipline, visitors can look forward to sampling delicious feni while understanding the artisanal feni-making process through a feni distillery set up by Goa’s very own ‘feni dotor’ Hansel Vaz. Goan taste-buds are also set to be sated through numerous programmes featuring local cuisine, one of which is a ‘Culinary Workshops: Goan cooking’ session followed by a demonstration of a few dishes and an interactive session.
Exhibitions in the visual arts category have a variety of projects that explore materiality and audience interaction, with works by Aldona Video Club and Britto Arts Trust among the works.
This year, SAF adequately trains the spotlight on Goa, by showcasing not only the state’s cuisine and culture but also by inviting local home cooks to share their recipes and experiences in the collaborative partnership between the culinary incubator FIERCE Kitchens and SAF 2023, giving Goans a greater platform to showcase their skills on a broader mainstream platform.
