Goa remains an evolving canvas. Whether it’s for those who’ve inhabited the land all their lives or for those fortunate enough to experience the State more than once, Goa opens up new perspectives and a new sense of the place each time.
Recently, this ever-shifting nature and perspective change of Goa was highlighted at a workshop that culminated in a photo showcase ‘As We Run Through Time’.
Held at the Museum of Goa (MOG), the exhibit — the result of a two-day creative sprint across the State — offered a grounded, visual response to life and change in Goa, seen through the lens of the next generation of image makers.
The workshop and showcase were facilitated by Idhar Udhar, a creative collective founded in 2023 by Chaitali Paranjape from Margao and Preksha Kothari from Rajasthan, whose mission has been to nurture fresh perspectives and foster collaboration among emerging visual artists.
Participants were from Goa and other cities like Ahmedabad and Delhi, and the process fostered strong bonds and lasting friendships.
On Day 1, participants worked on four key activities wherein they produced zines through web images and internet archives. “The idea was to express their perception of Goa, what came to their minds when they thought of the place. Was it beaches, glamour, tourism, alcohol or something else entirely?” explained Chaitali, one of the facilitators.
The sessions also included fieldwork, during which five-minute videos were shot in Candolim based on the participants’ idea of Goa. “They were given keywords and asked to create a narrative around them, particularly focusing on how to represent cliches differently,” Chaitali added.
Abstraction was encouraged on Day 2. “We asked them to construct a single image based on a concept: decide mentally what they wanted to include, what feeling they wanted to convey, and then, build the image accordingly. It was a staged process, but intentional and thoughtful staging,” the facilitator, Preksha, shared.
The showcase brought together the works of seven emerging photographers based in Goa — Abhishek Anil, Anish Nogar Araujo, Daniel Kagoo, Soham Prasad Bhende, Sanjeev Kumar, Sasha Dhawan and Jiya Gautam who were selected through an open call that attracted over 40 entries.
It was her third visit to Goa, and unlike before, Jiya an aspiring artist from Ahmedabad wasn’t surprised by its charm. But this time, through the workshop she was able to interact with locals and migrants, alike, which gave her a new perspective.
“One connection that stood out, for me, was the visual link between the bubbles in a glass of beer and the foam of waves crashing on the shore,” she shared.
In her constructed image, she explored the theme of trash left behind by people. Photography being about many things, Jiya chose to express this idea through painting and collage, transforming discarded objects into a visual narrative.
As for Soham, a filmmaker and designer from Quepem and a Communication Design student at National Institute of Design, his zine was about land gods in Goa.
“It explores how people encounter death, the idea of passing away, and how we remember those who have gone, the spirits we see and how Goans are deeply connected to nature and worship. It’s about seeing God in nature and how the landscape lives within the people,” he said.
Apart from this, Soham also touched upon the subject of the intimacy of a child’s connection with nature.
The workshop emphasised hands-on creation over discussion, with a focus on dynamic, collective work.
At the end, it wasn’t just about Goa anymore; it was about how these young creatives felt in relation to the place. It was their personal influences, emotions and experiences that shaped the outcome.