GTDC organises art exhibition to commemorate its 25 yrs

Panaji, Apr 10 (UNI) The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has organised an art exhibition here to commemorate its silver jubilee celebrations.

The 14-day exhibition, Aparant, will be inaugurated by Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane tomorrow in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred de Souza, who is in-charge of tourism.

It is a unique art exhibition presenting a kaleidoscope on Goan culture and tradition, showcasing some 265 paintings by 20 Goan artists, besides some historic paintings by masters.

''The event commemorates the completion of 25 years of the GTDC, which is hosting the exhibition at the Old Goa Medical College building,'' according to GTDC chairperson Fatima D'Sa and its managing director Sanjit Rodrigues.

Interacting with mediapersons here today, they said India's leading critic and theorist Ranjit Hoskote curated the mega-exhibition to prove the point that ''Goa is a seed-bed of artistic excellence, apart from being a cultural backwater, remote from centres of Bombay, Delhi and Bangalore.'' Ms D'Sa said the exhibition was one of the efforts of the GTDC to promote tourism through yet another facet in the field of art and culture. ''We believe art is a vibrant culture of Goa to attract tourists,'' she added.

''Goans have been among the great pioneers in the development of modern Indian art. Yet, this aspect has been overlooked. Our efforts in recognising the Goan contributions to the Indian art has been almost negligible. This show will be the first big step in the right direction, besides being a launchpad for new artists in the state,'' Mr Rodrigues said.

Describing the exhibition as ''concert of soloists'', the renowned art curator-cum-critic and Sahitya Academy award winner Mr Hoskote said it would showcase rare paintaings and biographical details of great artists from previous generations like Francis Newton Souza, Vasudeo Gaitonde, Angelo Fonseca, Laxman Pai and Antonio Xaavier Trindade.

In addition, there will be selected works from important Goa-trained artists including Baiju, Parthan and Vidya Kamat, besides major photographs by India's leading photographer Dayanita Singh, who had shot images near her house in a Goan village.

Mr Hoskote has brought out a detailed catalogue of the exhibits, to be released tomorrow, besides curing the exhibition.

'Aparanta' in due course also plans a series of art-related cultural events including an exclusive theatre performance by the Mustard Seed company, a Tiatro, evenings of poetry recitals in Konkani, Marathi and English, and classical musical performances in both Western and Indian traditions.

UNI