Three artists, three distinct types, one household. Meet the De Sousas — Francis, Verodina and Nadia — whose works are on show at Gallery Time And Space. Through their work, one not solely will get a glimpse of life in Goa, but in addition an perception into human nature. Tinged with equal elements of humour and actuality, this familial show of creativity could have viewers both eager to revisit their favorite seaside city or questioning how human beings could be the identical all over the place, or maybe each.
Over a telephone name from Goa, the household spoke about their work, their lives and A Separate Reality, their first-ever exhibition collectively. Excerpts:
A day within the life
“There’s always space to keep improving, keep growing, and the subject matter is what I see in my day-to-day life,” says Francis De Sousa. “It’s not that I’m not bothered by what happens in the political arena, but I choose not to display it in my work. I choose to take a diametrically different direction, where I paint a better picture, with hopes and dreams of a better life.”
Most of Francis’ works akin to The Salesman or The Fish Eaters are a easy depiction of the quiet life in a small city. Brightly and boldly executed in watercolour, gouache and acrylic, one can simply relate to the on a regular basis photos. Others akin to Lonely within the Garden, The Painter or First Date, have you ever trying inwards.
“What do you do on a holiday? You are in a quiet place, not asking any deep philosophical questions about life. That’s the sort of thing I try to portray. I don’t consciously think of my work in terms of style. I just paint the way I can.”
“I enjoy colour and that is why most of my pieces are so colourful,” he says, including, ”One of my hobbies is to gather paints and I’ve manufacturers from all around the world. When you might be promoting your work, it’s a must to give your purchasers the most effective — the most effective materials, paper and paint. There isn’t any compromise on that.”
The Salesman by Francis De Sousa
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Special Arrangement
Most of the works on show at A Separate Reality have been created for this present, says Francis, who final had a present in Bengaluru in 2008. “I draw almost incessantly and perhaps, out of four or five images, one of those turns into a painting.” He provides that his material isn’t pre-decided as, “I feel that that would limit me.”
And whereas Life in itself is a muse that continuously surprises, Francis says, “I am terrified of stagnation, of getting stuck in a rut. You’re always in that area of self doubt. You don’t know whether you’re good enough, always wondering how good or how bad you are. “
“One has to be adventurous. For me, art is an adventure, and I have to keep reinventing myself. You may not sell as much, but there is always the prospect of discovery.”
Channeling an internal drive
Easily essentially the most reticent of the three, Verodina De Sousa says her deepest expressions come out by her work. A terracotta artist for over 4 many years, Verodina has been working in stoneware for the previous six years.
“Normally when I’m working, I go into a state of mental silence. I get in touch with my inner self and my hands synchronise with what I’m feeling within,” says Verodina, who begins her day with a interval of meditation. “My creations do not happen at a conscious level, but rather a subconscious one.”
She provides that her creativity takes its personal course, and as soon as the figures emerge she ponders on her work, counting on “what I was feeling at the time of creating.” However, she does admit that she doesn’t like naming her work because it, “limits the scope of an artist’s perception.”
Tea Table Talk by Verodina De Sousa
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Crafted with stoneware ceramics and ranging in measurement from a few inches to no more than two toes, Verodina’s works of their smooth shades are lovely to say the least. Pieces akin to Taken for a Ride and The Red Herring make you smile, whereas others akin to Off Track, Channelled by Love and The Bibliomaniac are a throwback to a extra calmer tempo of life.
“Normally, colours used on ceramic work tend to be loud and jarring. but they are not in sync with what I am trying to show. I use muted shades as I feel those are best suited for my pieces. I try to portray the inner peace I experience through my work as it is not something describable or tangible. Those are the colours I link to peacefulness,” she says.
The wonderful artwork painter continues, “When I feel something stirring in me, I channel that energy into my work and create about two or three pieces. I keep working until I start feeling a sense of dryness or emptiness. I go back to work only after I feel refreshed.”
Tongue-in-cheek humour
At first look, Nadia De Sousa’s work is cutesy and kooky, however if you happen to can see previous the humour, you might be positive to glimpse one thing else.
“Everybody interprets art in different ways. To me, humour in life is everything, because it’s my way of coping. Whether I am watching a movie or reading a book, it has to have an underlying sense of humor and that is true of my work as well. I take a slightly dark situation and make it funny,” says Nadia.
“Most of my work has a dark undertone — either somebody is getting eaten or something is being stolen or cats are being held against their will by a rat. Although it comes off as appealing to children as well as adults, I think it is meant mainly for adults,” she provides.
Populated by woodland creatures failing to watch social mores, Nadia’s canvases are brilliantly hued masterpieces of wordplay and tongue-in-cheek humour. For occasion, She Screamed Bloody Murder, depicting a redhead calmly lounging on a picnic blanket at the same time as a flock of crows make off with just a little white mouse, will attraction to these with a command of the language and a smidgen of popular culture trivia.
I Think Margaret’s bought a Drinking Problem by Nadia De Sousa
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Special Arrangement
The identical could be mentioned of The Wedding At Hormuz or The OrthoDAUNTist, whereas others akin to Greedy Pigs and Loser Has to Eat a Worm, converse volumes in regards to the disagreeable facet of human nature.
“I really enjoy it when people look at my work, and then suddenly chuckle because they’ve figured it out. I’m basically a storyteller and I do like a good story myself. When I was growing up, my father would would make up fairy tales about fantastical things for me; somehow that kind of storytelling is now part of my work,” says the artist, who paints in watercolours and “a little bit of gouache”.
Talking about The Skunk Who Stole a Ferrari, Nadia says, “It just came to me. Somehow the connection was made in my head after hearing the title A Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and I thought, ‘That’s a great idea for a painting’, and I chuckled to myself. Coming up with ideas is the most difficult part, because you don’t always think creatively. Sometimes everything comes to a halt and you need to reboot.”
Plus, these concepts weren’t at all times there. Growing up in a family with artist dad and mom, Nadia admits, “I went in a different direction from my parents though I too, studied at art college, like they did. However, while they had taken up painting, I chose applied art which is advertising and commercial art.”
“But I absolutely hated it. I quit and decided to take a break in nature, spending about six months in the forests of South Goa with my uncle. It rejuvenated me and I suddenly discovered my style. That was in 2019,” she says.
About the exhibition, Nadia says she particularly created works for this present. “I usually don’t have my paintings at home apart from what I am practising on or doing for myself. When I came to know of this show about a year ago, I began creating for it. However, I left behind those works that felt forced and only brought along those that felt natural to me and where the ideas flowed,” she says, speaking in regards to the choice course of for A Separate Reality.
A Separate Reality by the De Sousa household shall be on show at Gallery Time and Space until February 23, 2025.
Published – February 19, 2025 09:01 pm IST
