When it comes to painting, the different mediums that are used are oil paints, watercolours, acrylic paints, graphite pencils, charcoal etc. But, for Liesel Cotta de Souza, it is none of the above. To date, she is the only artist in Goa to create machine embroidered art works.
Growing up in Agassaim, she learnt traditional embroidery from her aunt and mother, and on completing her degree in painting from the Goa College of Art, Panjim, in 1998, she continued embroidery. Her husband, renowned artist Querozito, suggested that she use only thread as a medium, instead of paint.
A professor from the Goa College of Art was a judge at her first art show in the early 90s and asked her to explain her technique. “He thought my works were made with sand. When I told him I’d used thread, he was amazed and gave me a prize!” she recalls.
Many dismissed her work as embroidery, copied from one of those readymade drawings that one gets in embroidery pattern books. And, despite a lot of discouragement, she persevered to extend it to a newer realm and has carved a niche in the art scenario in Goa.
CHALLENGES & MORE
When planning and working on a theme, the work develops from a preconceived image by preparing a rough linear sketch indicating the overall composition, and the embroidery starts from one corner proceeding to the final image.
Over a period of time, Liesel started incorporating fabric, rope, feathers, printed fabric, which was challenging as she had to adjust the print to the subject or vice versa, adding details and texture. Unlike working with acrylic and oil, the medium does not permit errors, and it would be arduous to rectify.
“I would like to say that there are restrictions as one cannot do large works, but, I have attempted quite a few. More than the restrictions of size, it takes such a long time to complete a work, and it’s difficult to continue working on the same imagery,” she elucidates.
Liesel’s compositions are thematic, mostly portraying women in their daily chores or in natural surroundings. On studying the works closely, one notices each stand of hair flying in the breeze, detailed facial expressions and movement. She has done a series of landscapes, clowns, fantasy, portraiture of Mother Teresa and other personalities, all in a soothing colour palette.
“Creating a painting requires concentration, precisely planning the colour palette, effort and a lot of time and perseverance. I have worked in this medium for thirty years, and intend to continue for decades to come,” she asserts.
She received the State Art Award in 1991 at the All India Art Exhibition. In 1999, ‘Fado’ at Jammat Gallery, Mumbai, won an award at the All India Art Exhibition, A.I.F.A.C.S.
SOLO SHOWS IN GOA
1998: Exhibiton at Alliance Francaise Galerie
2000: ‘Projections’ at India International Center Gallery, Delhi
2005: ‘Framed Images’ at Galeria Cidade de Goa
2006: ‘Fantasies’ at Sexta Seis Space
2010: ‘They, You, Me’ at Tamarind Art Gallery
2017: ‘Beyond Thread’ at Maquinez Art Gallery
She was also part of several group exhibitions in Goa from 1986 to 1999 at numerous galleries, many of which have closed down over the years.
1987: Mini Format Art Exhibition, Bijapur
1994: Gallery Greenwood, Delhi, and 'Circa' in Goa
1999: ‘Fado’ at Jammat Gallery, Mumbai, won an award at the All India Art Exhibition, A.I.F.A.C.S
2001: M.A.E. Art Exhibition, Zen Art Gallery, Bangalore; and Cidade Gallery, Goa
2002: Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
2002: 17th National EGA Exhibition, USA.
2003/2004: Fontainhas Festival of the Arts, Goa
2004: ‘Mind's Journey's’ at Galeria Cidade de Goa
2005: Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery in Mumbai, ‘Portugal Through the Eyes of Artists in Goa’ in Panjim,
2006: ‘Portugal Through the Eyes of Artists in Goa’ in Margao; ‘Goa, Goa, Goa’ at Jammat Art Gallery, Mumbai
2007: ‘Aparanta, The confluence of Contemporary Art’ in Goa, and ‘Vismaya’ in Bangalore
2009: ‘Annual Exhibition RAG’ in Goa
2010: Anniversary Show in Baga, Goa
2011: ‘Goan Kaleidoscope’, ‘Carnival of Colours’, ‘Draw the Line’ at Sunaparanta, Centre for the Arts, Panjim
2014: ‘Pilar Art Fest’ in Pilar, Goa
2015: ‘Water’ Gallery Gitanjali, and ‘Pilar Art Fest’ at Pilar, Goa
2017: ‘Opus Tinta’ an Exhibition of Drawings; ‘She’ an exhibition of art works at Cube Gallery, Goa
