The Goan: Tellme more about yourself and your background in art?
Kanchi Mehta: Iam an artist myself. I did my Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting from J J Schoolof Art in Mumbai and thereafter a Master’s degree from Christie’s which is anauction house in New York. I then came back to India and for the last 10 yearsI have been working with some big names “ artists, galleries, curators etc. Istarted an art gallery in Mumbai with Bose Krishnamachari which lasted foraround 2.5 years. And after that, I began curating exhibitions in Europe,collaborating with other artists, etc.
TG: What is theChameleon Art Project about?
KM: It is anon-profit initiative I started last November. Through the project, I conductworkshops for artists on the various avenues they can choose. There are residences,public projects or they can learn by volunteering at art fairs and not limitthemselves to being with an art gallery.
TG: What agendado the workshops serve?
KM: In the last10 years I realised that the only section in the art community that needs strengtheningis the young artist; they come out of art school and are lost. They have noguidance on how to survive as an artist and what options are available to them.The workshops are a crash course to empower an artist.
TG: What isconceptual art and is it gaining momentum in the recent times?
KM: Conceptualart need not be on canvas or paper. It is art which has an ideology, philosophyand story behind it. For example, a British artist, Damien Hirst preserved deadsharks and animals in massive encasings. This is a work of art. It’s how ahuman looks at death. Yes, more artists are being aware of conceptual art.
TG: What is youropinion of the potential for taking art to a new level in Goa?
KM: Goa has abeautiful base of so many artists, good collectors and enthusiastic culturalpeople. People like Remo, Mario Miranda and Subodh Kerkar have set the bar andare a legacy of sorts. We need to work more in Goa to raise the level of newartists and make them known in other cities and countries.
