Connecting the dots through art

Fallen in love with art and imbibing it in their lives, this year’s nine awardees of Kala Academy’s State Art Exhibition share their experiences, goals and aspirations with TGLife

| OCTOBER 31, 2018, 03:56 AM IST

BHARATI PAWASKAR


Hitesh Pankar

An artist, architect, interior designer and muralist, Hitesh Pankar who currently teaches at Goa College of Art and was earlier a visiting faculty at Goa College of Architecture, believes that if you do good always, then good greets you in doubles. There’s art in everything around him for Hitesh who does not shy to claim that he has been one of those lucky ones who could fulfil all his dreams and aspirations that he nurtured since childhood. Today, at 36, the list of his accomplishments is unending. Having graduated in architecture in Goa College of Architecture and then post-graduated in fine arts from J J School of Arts, Mumbai Hitesh topped in Goa and secured distinction in J J - all that he dreamt of. His work was displayed with that of M F Hussain, in Dubai. “It’s about staying focussed on your chosen path. Believe in yourself. If one door is closed, God opens 100 doors for you. Do not get discouraged with failures, because if you are good people will try to pull your legs. So take that with positive spirit. Listen to your heart,” advises Hitesh to young art aspirants who considers his mother late Meera Pankar as his first Guru and wants to do a solo show dedicated to her. 

Veenita Chendvankar 

Living in serene Sangolda in the midst of greenery, Veenita Chendvankar admits that colours and shades fascinate her. Mother Nature inspires her to create beautiful works of art. “God is the most creative artist who has gifted us with a colourful canvas of this world. We must spend at least one hour in admiring the nature around us. If we do so, all stress will melt down,” feels Veenita who is recipient of many awards in her career as an artist. 

Damodar Madgaonkar

A full-time artist Damodar Madgaonkar does not restrict himself to paintings and sculptures but keeps experimenting with different forms of art. Damodar recalls an incident in his early career. “I used to do portraits of people who are no more in this world. In early 2000, I accepted an assignment of drawing a portrait of a man, who was dead in 1975. His wife was having only a small picture of him in a group. She wanted a pencil portrait of him. I did it. When she saw the portrait she busted out in tears and exclaimed, “This artist has made my husband alive again.” For Damodar it was the biggest compliment. 

As dabbled in various forms of arts, he developed skills to create commercial art and started rendering his services to hotels in Goa. “However, I wanted to be a full-time artist so I joined Pied Piper Academy, founded by Goan artist Wilson D’Souza. Sunil Naik

There was a deadline for short a film competition and only two days left. Sunil Naik had just returned to Goa from Mumbai to start his own agency. He and his friend decided to work hard and finish the short film before the deadline. “I thought of a concept that would fit in our requirement including budget, time and team. I was the director and actor too. We worked on the concept and submitted. Next day we got a call saying we have won the first place. That was a memorable experience, which taught me that it is not a budget or the time but the thought and work you put in at that particular moment that gives you the appreciation,” observes Sunil, creative head at his in-house ad agency, ‘Creative Factory’.

A graduate in fine art Sunil specialises in audio visual and is vocal about the options before a student of art, “When it comes to Fine Art many people just think of paint and brush. But it is much more beyond that. From a writing pen to the car we drive everything is being designed by an artist. The moment you decide to join fine art, a thousand doors open up before you. One can be an illustrator, a painter, a graphic artist, a cartoonist, a commercial artist, a film maker, an art director, a product designer, a brand strategist, a photographic field icon etc.”

Kalidas Satardekar

A bachelor in fine arts from Goa College of Art, Kalidas Satardekar is currently an art teacher at government high school at Sadar Ponda. A versatile artist he has worked in Mumbai as an illustrator cum visualiser in a reputed advertising agency. “This was soon after my graduation in Goa,” recalls Kalidas who has worked in varied art subjects like calligraphy, photography, painting, clay sculptures, landscapes, portraits, graphics and designing. “I like to keep my passion ignited and keep practicing in my spare hours though I keep a busy schedule,” smiles Kalidas. He has awards like Merrit, Mudra, Camlin, Chota Cinema award for his short film, GKB award for mascot designing, Marathi Vidnyan Parishad (Goa Vibhag) award for photography, youth festival award for logo designing in a competition organised by Sports Authority of Goa. 

Sandesh Gaundalkar

Sandesh Gaundalkar is specialised as a communication designer (graphic and illustrations) and his core strength lies in visualisation and illustration. At present he is working as independent illustrator and graphic designer. A graduate in fine art from Goa College of Art, Sandesh completed his graduation in Applied Art. “I have undertaken training in animation and post production from WKS, Mumbai and also done ‘Times Journal of Photography’ - a photography course from the Times of India in Mumbai,” shares Sandesh who started his professional career in Mumbai as a graphic designer in 1999.

Kailash Parab

For Kailash Parab indulging in art is a creative challenge. He enjoys creating satisfying artwork as he is aware that people enjoy his artwork. He loves to create big murals. He works in various mediums and sculpture. An artist and a drawing teacher, Kailash feels that getting awards is like giving justice to creativity. Believing that it is hard work, patience and creativity that can offer success and satisfaction to any artist, Kailash has a word for today’s young artists, “Be passionate about your work.” 

Sagar Suresh Naik Mule

Born on June 1, 1990 at Adpai in Durbhat in Ponda, Sagar Naik Mule is masters in sculpture from S N School of Fine Art, University of Hyderabad. Having done his graduation from Goa College of Art during 2009-13 and plunged into the world of art, Sagar participated in many group shows and exhibitions. He bagged Finext award in 2017 in the national exhibition of mini artwork.  

Sagar has to his credit Prafulla Dahanukar Kalanand 2017 Award for installation (west zone). He was also awarded for applied art and graphic design by Kala Academy Goa for (artist category) in 42nd state art exhibition. He bagged first prize in painting in Telangana State Youth festival too. His sand art, sculpture, clay art, landscape, photography, painting, metal scrap has all been awarded from time to time. 

Navso Parwar

Working on the laterite stone for more than one reasons, Navso Parwar, is actually in love with the texture and beauty of laterite. “Every region has its own specialised stone culture and Goa has her laterite. But in Goa we don’t value its beauty. It was used for building houses, temples and forts in the bygone era and nothing has changed so far. I wanted to honour this stone from our soil by using it for sculptures and that’s the reason I chose laterite for my award winning sculpture - that of an old woman,” states Navso who dreams to have a solo exhibition of his artwork sometime soon. “I am dedicating my award winning sculpture to my mentor and social activist, late Satish Sonak, who has done so much for the common people of Goa,” concludes Navso.  

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