Art exhibition ‘Cartoonists and Illustrators of Goa’ which brings a number of Goan cartoonists and illustrators under one roof, will also highlight various issues faced by artists
JAY JOSHI
Artists, especially cartoonists and illustrators are people who make our life delightful with their drawings. From newspapers to graffiti to beautifully designed websites, illustrators and cartoonists have added a touch of art to make the world a joyful place. And when talented cartoonists and illustrators of Goa come together, it is nothing short of a boon for a true fan of art.
After having a successful first edition, ‘Cartoonists and Illustrators of Goa’, is coming back with a bang for the second time. The event will be inaugurated on February 21, and will be on till February 24 at Kala Academy. It will showcase cartoons and illustrations, ranging from commercial to personal collections from noted Goan cartoonists and illustrators, and also offer the visitors a chance to buy reasonably priced stylish merchandise. Illustrator Fabian Gonsalves, who is a part of the organising committee explains more about the event.
“When people talk of Goa they many times say ‘eh, there’s nothing in Goa! And there is need to change that perception-especially in regard to talent, exposure and opportunities. I know a lot of creative artists around Goa, and we saw that a number of illustration or similar jobs were being given to artists from Bangalore or other big cities when there is good artistic talent right here. We felt that people are unaware of artistic talent in Goa, and this event is an effort to highlight Goan artists.” Gonsalves elaborates. “The event seeks to cultivate a strong creative base in commercial and personal illustrative cartooning, and we hope that it develops as a culture in Goa”, says Gonsalves.
While artists in Goa struggled considerably to find opportunities before the heyday of social media, they face a range of new issues today, says Chari while elaborating on the need to hold an event such as this. “One of the major issues facing illustrators and cartoonists today is bargaining, and we experience this mainly when we design logos for entities such as startups. The design of a logo may look small, but it needs considerable thought skill as an artist. However, the client is sometimes unaware of how much effort has gone into that small piece of art, and will ask the illustrator to reduce their prices. There have been cases where graphic designers and DTP operators have designed logos at cheap rates, and clients have come to expect the same rates form artists. This has made artists reluctant to take up logo-design jobs.”
The upcoming event also seeks to generate some discussion on a number of such issues faced by artists and seek a solution to them, avers Chari, who has been working as an illustrator for over a decade.
The idea for this event was developed when initially illustrator Fabian Gonsalves, renowned Goan cartoonist Alexyz, and Billy Joe decided to host an exhibition of their works. With time, other artists also came onboard, and the event evolved into a broader idea, clarifies Chari.
