The ‘Art Inc.’ exhibition, is a collaborative event to be held at the Museum of Goa (MOG), and organised in partnership with the Department of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities, Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa, EnAble India and International Purple Fest Goa. Forty-seven leading and aspiring Goa-based artists with disabilities are gearing up to showcase their artwork at the upcoming ‘Art Inc.’ exhibition at MOG, Pilerne to celebrate diversity and inclusion in the art space.
The ‘Art Inc.’ exhibition is scheduled to commence on July 19 and will be open to the public until August 4. Over 65 artists with disabilities and organisations supporting them responded to the open call for submissions, submitting more than 150 artworks. From these, 100 artworks by 47 artists, including both seasoned practitioners and those making their public exhibition debut, have been selected for display and purchase. All proceeds from the sales will go directly to the artists.
Highlighting the success of this collaboration, Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, stated: “This first-of-its-kind ‘Art Inc.’ exhibition for persons with disabilities (PwDs) is organised to showcase the talent and creativity of Goan artists with disabilities. Our goal is to foster a more inclusive art community and offer a platform for these artists to gain recognition and support. By providing a venue for artists with disabilities to display and sell their artwork, this exhibition empowers them to achieve financial independence. Ultimately, we aim to create an inclusive and accessible creative space for everyone.”
The collaboration between the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the Museum of Goa underscores the commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the arts. With the overwhelming response from various artists with disabilities, ‘Art Inc.’ is poised to make a significant impact on Goa’s art scene. The unique exhibition will also offer tactile accessibility for select artworks, allowing visually impaired visitors to engage with the art in a meaningful way.
To cater to the diverse skill levels of the 47 participating artists, the exhibition will be divided into two categories: one featuring seven established artists and another showcasing 40 emerging talents.
“The ‘Art Inc.’ exhibition is an effort to not only showcase art but also the resilience and realities of persons with disabilities. We have been working hard to make this exhibition a smooth and comfortable experience for all those involved. For this we have undergone various workshops to understand the point of view of these artists with disabilities, to better accommodate their needs and make our space inclusive and accessible to all,” said Sharada Kerkar, Operational Head of MOG, Pilerne, and co-founder of the Children’s Art Studio (CAS), Pilerne.
Writer and Art Consultant Samira Sheth, the curator of ‘Art Inc.’, meticulously curated the exhibition with a supportive approach throughout the selection process. “I am honoured to stand with the artists of ‘Art Inc.’ as their curator and advocate for their creative talents. Our curation process was dedicated to presenting artworks of exceptional quality and delight to art enthusiasts. ‘Art Inc.’ offers a unique opportunity to acquire art at accessible prices while supporting artists with disabilities,” said Sheth.
Among the notable artworks selected for the exhibition are ‘Dragon Realm 1’ (2023) by 18-year-old Sufya Panna, ‘Craftsman’ (2002) by 60-year-old Dylan Arthur, ‘Corn Eagle’ (2024) and ‘Fisherwomen’ (2024) by 19-year-old Saharsh Santosh Vaingankar, ‘Cat in the Classroom’ (2024) by 26-year-old Sarvesh Suresh Naik, ‘Scenery’ (2024) by 18-year-old Tanish Kinalkar, ‘Drifting Thru Goa’ (2024) by Paralympic swimmer Gregory Burns in collaboration with Westin Goa, ‘Tricky Elephant’ (2024) by renowned poet and author Frederika Menezes, ‘Starry Days’ (2024) by TIES (Towards Inclusion Everywhere in Society) Collective, and ‘Fontainhas’ (2018) by 33-year-old Nigel Lazarus De Souza.
The collaboration between the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and MOG marks a significant step towards fostering inclusivity through art. With all the profit from the artwork going to the artists, ‘Art Inc.’ marks a great initiative that will not only help to empower the Persons with Disabilities but also provide an affordable opportunity for admirers of art to contribute and support the community.
