Authored and curated by Kunal Ray, ‘Goa: Subodh Kerkar’s Canvas’ by Subodh Kerkar elucidates the multifaceted and often-untold history of Goa. Through the eyes of the artist Subodh Kerkar, the book delves into the state's diverse historical elements, spanning its architecture, diaspora, culinary traditions, and colonial heritage. Offering a visually compelling journey, the book examines Goa's people, its vital waters, and their intricate connection to its past. Furthermore, it traces Kerkar's personal evolution from childhood to adulthood as reflected in his paintings, revealing how his early exposure to his father's artistic practice, his travels, and his exploration of diverse artistic approaches shaped his growth and broadened his horizons.
From an early age, Kerkar began painting under his father's guidance, focusing on watercolor depictions of idyllic Goan village landscapes. His initial lessons centered on capturing the nuances of his surroundings in Goa, particularly the use of shade and light to replicate the patterns of leaves. Kerkar's early artistic explorations also included architectural works, his first serious series of artworks, inspired by his interest in the unique architectural heritage of Goa.
In this book, the author tries to show that the artist's roving eye misses nothing: the ocean's imprint on boats, seashells, the lives of fisher folk, and Goan cuisine. Subodh's daring and experimental works include 500 terracotta heads planted on the beach, expansive sand-and-light installations, oysters growing on plates immersed in the ocean, fisher folk depicted in ink, crochet, laterite sculptures, and much more.
Subodh has created several artworks connected with food. One of his most playful sculptures shows different food items growing on Vasco da Gama's head. He has used coconut leaves for installations and made discs with coconut shells. For an art installation, he planted rice, replicating Vasco da Gama's travel route. Subodh says that Goa's fields grow both rice and footballers. During monsoons, the fields grow rice and, in summer, they yield footballers. Football is one of the most important sports in Goa. Subodh planted footballs in the fields to draw the attention of the authorities to the condition of open spaces, urging them to construct more fields for the local youth. The activist coexists with the artist. Subodh doesn't want to disengage one from the other.
~ Excerpt from the book
This book integrates art and environment in a work of enduring beauty and resistance. Ultimately, the author's intended message is to reveal how Subodh Kerkar's artistic journey is deeply intertwined with his observation of Goa's history, culture, and natural environment, and how his art serves as a powerful medium to explore and express these connections.
‘There is a wide-prevailing misconception confusing Goan houses with Portuguese architecture. While Portuguese or European architectural styles could have been an influence, the architecture of the Goan house which includes a balcao (balcony with an inbuilt seating arrangement), decorative windows with coloured glass and oyster shells, railings, columns, compound walls, gate designs, and mosaic floors is a style unique to Goa. Subodh Kerkar, amongst many several other artists, architects, and historians of Goa, believes that to identify this architectural style as Portuguese is an incorrect gross generalisation. Subodh also says that during his long and extensive travels in Portugal, he had never seen such homes. Therefore, these should be termed as Goan houses.’
~ Excerpt from the book
‘It must be acknowledged that in the work of Subodh Kerkar, the beach is a site of performance and exhibition. It is also a marker of his identity as a Goan artist who integrates his surroundings into his art. Further, this can be construed as an expression of the artist's inner resolve to take art beyond the confines of a gallery or closed museum space by bringing it out in the open amidst multitudes of people, many of whom may have had nothing to do with art in their lives. We also sense a kind of freeing up in his art, refusing to be constrained by closed spaces through these installations held in the open.’
~ Excerpt from the book
On Saturday, April 5th, 2025, artist and founder of the Museum of Goa, Dr. Subodh Kerkar, led attendees at Kala Academy, Panjim, on an exploration that transcended conventional understanding. His highly anticipated lecture, 'Glimpses of Goa's Histories,’ offered a profound dive into the region's intricate past, uncovering narratives often overlooked in popular accounts.
This lecture organised by the Museum of Goa in Pilern, beautifully merged art, history, and identity through the perspective of an artist whose creations have consistently resonated with the essence of his native land. Notably, the lecture also served as the launch for ‘Goa: Subodh Kerkar's Canvas,’ a book by cultural critic Kunal Ray that meticulously chronicles Kerkar's artistic journey and his sustained dialogue with Goa's heritage.
“Subodh’s artwork exists at the confluence of aesthetics and social consciousness. Subodh’s art is interdisciplinary, immersive and thought provoking to say the least.”
Text by V V Kusum Priya
About Subodh Kerkar
Subodh Kerkar is a qualified medical professional who gave up medicine to pursue the visual arts. He has carved out a niche for himself, especially in the field of conceptual art. He is the founding director of Museum of Goa, which is one of the largest privately owned contemporary art spaces in the state. His work has been shown at exhibitions and several art events in India and abroad. He is also a well-known public speaker and educator.
About Kunal Ray
Kunal Ray teaches courses in literary & cultural studies. He studied at Fergusson College, Pune where he also taught briefly before joining FLAME. He is a leading cultural commentator, and his writing regularly appears in The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, The Indian Express amongst other publications. He recently co-edited Shabd aur Sangeet - Unravelling Song-Text in India (Three Essays Collective, May 2019). He is also the co-founder and co-editor of On Eating - A Multilingual Journal of Food & Eating (oneating.in)