When Christopher Pereira, a photographic artist in Tooting Broadway, London was in university back in London, he had a close friend who battled depression. "At that time I didn't know a lot about the topic and I didn't really understand what mental illness meant," recalls Pereira. Over time as the friend confided in him, Pereira admits that he didn't really know what to do. "He used to tell me about his thoughts and what he wanted to do do and although I wanted to help him, it was quite a lot to take in," he says, adding that this led to a growing intererest in the field of depression and mental illness.
Although born in London, Pereira's family originally hails from Goa and he often comes down to the state for a holiday. " I have a lot of friends here who are ‘shippies' .i.e. work on the ship. Often I used to go out with them and have a drink and we would talk. What I realised what that there were a lot of similarities between them and what I had seen in my friend in university. All this motivated me to begin working on this project (The Shippys' of Goa)," says Pereira, who enjoys working on projects which are personal to him.
While working as a shippy iS generally considered as a very glamourous job here in Goa owing to the wealth and pride it brings the family, through this photo series, Pereira tries to show the other side of this tough job. "The family usually likes the idea of the brother or husband being a shippy as it gives them a lot of respect as it should because it is a very tough job. But a lot of times, the reasoning behind why they go into this line is entirely for money, not for themselves but for their family. If they go into this line because they love it then its all good. I do have a ‘shippy' friend who has a good life and is happy and thats really good," explains Pereira. And while they generally know the ins and outs of the job sometimes its a big shock for them, states Pereira. "Some of them have previously never left India let alone Goa and suddenly they are travelling to wherever for a minimum of six months and that too on a ship. I can't really imagine what that would be like- to leave their family, their culture and country behind."
As a way of dealing with the pressures, stress, memories and the loneliness, many of them turn to alcohol and drug abuse, says Pereira, who while working on this project visited one of these ships just to get a feel of the living situation.
For his photography subjects for this project, Pereira used local boys and men. "One of my main worries was how they would respond to being photographed for this project, however they didn't have any issues. At first they didn't really understand the project but now they seem to have a better picture. At the same time though there was a language barrier that was a little challenging," he says.
The exhibition will be held in collaboration with Tatva, a multidisciplinary well being centre in Corjuem, who are working towards improving the mental wellbeing of people. "When I was looking for a venue to host the exhibition I was directed to Tatva and Kripi and David, the founders of the centre quickly came onboard for the idea," says Pereira, who took about three years to complete this project which consists of eight portraits. "I believe that a lot more people should know about depression and mental health especially in Goa where there is a tendency to sweep this issue under the carpet. I hope as time goes by the younger generation especially can change the perception towards this and see depression as an illness that can be cured," he says. "All I can hope for is that I make a difference, even if it is just in one person."
( ‘The Shippys' of Goa' will open on January 9, 4 pm at Tatva Centre, Corjuem which will be followed by a discussion. The exhibition will remain open till January 24)
