BY CLARA A RODRIGUES
An important part of the Goan heritage has always been its houses. Two distinct images appear when we talk of Goan houses - the pre-Portuguese houses and the houses that were the result of a fusion of two schools of architecture namely the Indian and the Portuguese.
With the Goan house becoming so etched in many artistic emotions, expression of this bond has found voice through different mediums. The Houses of Goa Festival is one such
endeavour. The festival is currently on at the Flying Saree, open-air art gallery, ArossimBeach. At the festival you will see Akeru Barros Pereira’s paintings of Goan houses. Says the Japanese artist who married to a Goan: “I have painted Goan houses. These are on display at the festival. Apart from that there are prints of additional works done by me on the same subject. Some of the houses I have painted are famous museum houses of Goa.”
Akeru and her supportive husband, Joao Barros Pereira had started a similar festival four years ago but according to Joao - “the concept has now matured.” He continues further, “We wish to make this festival an annual event. Akeru had put up an exhibition of her paintings of Goan houses last year. My wife has an endearing interest in painting Goan houses, so we decided why not celebrate the genius of Goan houses once a year. And that is how the festival was born.”
Something that you would not want to miss at the Houses of Goa Festival will be panels of the floor plans of seven houses of Goa mounted at a height of five feet on coconut trees. “The copies of thee panels were given to us by Gerard D’Cunha,” informs Joao. A mention of location has to be made. Says Joao, “It is on a coconut plantation. We have draped the coconut trees in saree hence the name The Flying Saree open-air art gallery. It is a single drape made from nearly 80 saris.”
“We cannot shift responsibility. Individuals have to take responsibility. If people want to sell their houses we cannot stop them. The government has been slow in supporting these houses. If they had to give the owners some scheme for finance, these houses could have become sustaining and resourceful ventures in lodging tourists opines Joao. Agreed, some do sell their houses for money but we cannot blame the people for it is never an easy decision to sell your house. They are often helpless and have no choice,” says Joao.
A painting is not a mere photographic impression and so the paintings on display at the festival tell a story beyond the blueprints of a house. They tell a story of the feelings, memories and emotions embedded in the house as perceived from an artistic prism.
