Tag: Museum of Goa

Human Interest

Phytoplankton Art Project Brings Marine Ecology Awareness to Bengaluru’s Children

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

From Goa’s coastline to a landlocked city, a children’s art initiative developed by the Goa-based Children’s Art Studio and co-supported by the Museum of Goa is carrying marine education beyond the sea. Phytoplankton World: The Unseen Heroes of Marine Life will be presented in Bengaluru from January 16 to 25 at Freedom Park as part of Makkala Hubba under the larger BLR Hubba cultural festival.

Rooted in Goa’s coastal ecology, the immersive project introduces children to phytoplankton—microscopic marine organisms that form the foundation of ocean life and play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Designed for children aged four to twelve, the experience transforms complex marine science into accessible learning through glow-in-the-dark installations, sensory environments and hands-on creative activities, reflecting how Goa’s close relationship with the sea can inspire environmental learning far beyond its shores.

Aligned with the philosophy of Makkala Hubba, a children-focused platform known for its emphasis on climate awareness and sensorial engagement, the project invites young visitors into an underwater-inspired space where curiosity drives learning and exploration unfolds through making and play.

Sharada Kerkar, Director of the Museum of Goa and Co-Founder of the Children’s Art Studio, said the project originated from a personal encounter with bioluminescence. She recalled kayaking at night in Vasco and witnessing the sea glow in shades of green and blue, caused by phytoplankton. The experience, she said, sparked a desire to create glowing environments that others could experience while learning about these unseen marine heroes.

The project evolved through extensive research into various types of phytoplankton and their forms, which were visualised at an enlarged scale through sketches, digital 3D imagery and architectural models. The team experimented with glow-in-the-dark and reusable materials to suit the underwater theme, eventually shaping an immersive environment that guides children through a layered learning journey.

Artist and educator Tincy Paulose from the Children’s Art Studio described the creative process as deeply engaging, noting that working with glowing materials brought out a sense of wonder and play. She said the project went beyond art-making, becoming a space for discovery and learning about the fascinating world of microscopic marine life.

Two guided workshops form a central part of the programme. Glow Beneath the Sea allows children to create glowing sea creatures while learning about the marine food chain and the foundational role of phytoplankton. Glow Microscopic Worlds encourages participants to imagine and design glowing phytoplankton inspired by organisms such as diatoms, dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria and coccolithophores, translating scientific knowledge into creative expression.

Events in Goa

Design for Justice Programme at MOG Brings Goa’s Justice Stakeholders Together

Tanisha Cardozo

Justice-related work in Goa is often carried out in isolation, with communities, organisations and institutions addressing similar social issues without sufficient coordination. This observation emerged during the Design for Justice programme held at the Museum of Goa (MOG) in January 2026 as part of the MOG Sundays series. The two-day programme created a shared space for dialogue, reflection and collaboration among stakeholders working across Goa’s justice landscape.

Bringing together civil society organisations, students, designers, researchers and practitioners, the programme focused on how people-centred and design-led approaches can help shape more inclusive and accessible justice systems. Discussions centred on mapping existing justice-related efforts in the state, sharing community-led interventions and identifying opportunities for collaboration across sectors.

Aditi Nayak, research associate at Justice Adda, explained that the programme grew out of reflections following the 2023 Design for Justice Conference in Goa. While there is a significant amount of justice-related work happening across the state, the absence of shared platforms often leads to fragmented efforts. The aim, she said, was to slow down, bring these efforts into conversation with one another and begin identifying shared priorities rooted in lived community experiences.

Participants presented initiatives addressing a wide range of issues, including environmental protection, land rights, mental health, gender justice, tribal rights, governance and the social impact of emerging technologies. Although the focus areas varied, many initiatives were grounded in everyday realities — from coastal communities responding to ecological degradation to residents navigating governance and legal processes that directly affect their lives.

The programme featured voices from law, academia, human rights, environmental advocacy and technology. Speakers such as Asawari Nayak, advocate Aurobindo Gomes Pereira, human rights activist Cyril Fernandes, environmental lawyer Sreeja Chakraborty, technology practitioner Karn Malhotra, Maya de Souza and former Children’s Court judge Sayonara Tellis Laad shared insights drawn from their professional and community-based work. Their discussions examined how justice is encountered beyond courtrooms and policies, in daily interactions with systems and institutions.

Drawing from Justice Adda’s approach, Aditi highlighted the importance of focusing on how people experience justice in practice. Visual tools, storytelling and design methods, she noted, can help simplify complex legal information, making it more accessible and usable for communities, and bridging gaps between institutions and the people they are meant to serve.

A recurring theme throughout the sessions was the understanding of justice as an ecosystem rather than the responsibility of any single sector. Participants pointed to challenges such as limited resources, barriers within governance systems, difficulties in sustaining long-term work and insider–outsider dynamics. At the same time, the conversations underscored the need for better coordination, shared resources and sustained engagement among communities, civil society organisations, institutions and young practitioners.

Organisers said the programme aimed to lay the groundwork for future collaboration, with the relationships and ideas formed during the two days expected to inform more coordinated, inclusive and community-responsive approaches to justice in Goa.

Events in Goa

Manohar Rai Sardessai’s Poetry Brings Goan Soul to Christmas Concert at Museum of Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Words from iconic Goan poet Manohar Rai Sardessai lent a rich regional and literary depth to the Concerto De Natal, a Christmas concert held at the Museum of Goa that celebrated the state’s multicultural identity while honouring its indigenous roots. The evening brought together poetry, music and tradition in a format that reflected both reverence and renewal.

The concert featured the release of newly composed Christmas carols set to Sardessai’s poetry by international opera singer and composer Oscar Castellino, created in collaboration with the poet’s son, Umesh. The compositions offered fresh musical interpretations while retaining the emotional and cultural resonance of the original verses.

Among the poems performed were Ball Jesus Zolmolo, Mari Matek Ballok Zala and Jinnen Mhaka Sogle Dile, alongside Ailim Natalam penned by Umesh Sardessai. These were presented after blending Konkani and Portuguese musical traditions with familiar English and French carols, creating a seamless and immersive concert experience.

According to curator Nilankur Das, reimagining Sardessai’s poetry through music brought a deeply Goan sensibility to the evening. The programme also featured original Konkani compositions for violin and ghumot, as well as traditional carols in Portuguese, English, French and German, grounding the concert in cultural diversity while honouring literary legacy.

The Concerto De Natal featured a distinguished ensemble of musicians including Oscar Castellino, vocalist Chelsea D’Silva, pianist and arranger Jason Quadros, ghumot percussionist Nahil Flores, and violinist Senon de Souza. Together, they performed compositions inspired by Sardessai’s work, alongside pieces by Micael Martins, Gabriel Pais, Castellino and classical composer Adolphe Adam, making the evening a celebration of Goa’s enduring artistic spirit.

Events in Goa

MOG Celebrates 10 Years with Landmark ‘Festivals of Goa’ Exhibition

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Museum of Goa (MOG) is commemorating a decade of creativity, innovation, and cultural dialogue with Festivals of Goa, a landmark exhibition that runs from November 9, 2025, to January 18, 2026, at its Pilerne campus. Featuring over 100 artists and more than a hundred works, this ambitious exhibition provides a unique lens through which visitors can explore Goa’s rich cultural fabric, evolving identity, and abundant diversity.

Curated under four simultaneous shows within the broad theme of Festivals of Goa, the exhibition examines shared histories, interfaith practices, and the ways in which traditions have adapted to modernity. Visitors can experience Goa’s festivals not just as cultural spectacles, but as vibrant spaces of memory, identity, and community expression. Sharada Kerkar, Director of MOG, emphasizes that the exhibition aims to reveal both widely celebrated and lesser-known festivals, offering insight into over 30 different festivities across the state.

The exhibition features works by noted Goan artists including Ramdas Gadekar, Viraj Naik, Chaitali Morajkar, Harshada Kerkar, Siddesh Chari, Sonia Rodrigues Sabharwal, Verodina Ferrao De Sousa, Asavari Gurav, Daniel D’Souza, and Nalini Elvino de Sousa, among others. Through photography, collaborative installations, multimedia artworks, and a children’s art show, Festivals of Goa reflects on the power of art to bridge communities and transform society. Subodh Kerkar, founder of MOG, underscores that the museum’s mission is to democratize contemporary art and create a space where the diverse voices of Goa can be heard freely.

The exhibition is divided into distinct sections to illuminate different aspects of Goan festivities. Where We Gather presents collaborative community projects, including a Narakasur, a crochet Christmas tree, and a giant Matoli, emphasizing the unifying power of community-based art practices. Festivals as Playgrounds, a children’s art exhibition curated by the museum’s Children’s Art Studio, explores creativity, community, and celebration from the perspective of young artists. Side by Side, curated by MOG, examines artistic responses to known and lesser-known festivals, offering insights into Goan society. Finally, The Seen/Unseen photo exhibition, curated by Prashant Panjiar, Indrajit Khambe, and Sharada Kerkar, reveals the labor, anticipation, and devotion behind the celebrations, offering a nuanced view beyond the spectacle.

The preview night set the tone for this landmark exhibition, featuring performances by celebrated Goan singer Sonia Shirsat and local band Roz Angon. Nilankur Das, Collaborations and Engagements Lead for MOG, reflected on the museum’s journey, noting that what began as a dream has grown into a dynamic space where artists, thinkers, students, and visitors intersect to engage with Goa’s histories, contradictions, and celebrations.

Since its establishment in 2015, MOG has emerged as a vibrant platform for artistic expression, collaborating with over 500 artists globally and hosting more than 600 exhibitions and events. The museum welcomes around 70,000 visitors annually, including 12,000 students from Goan schools, fostering a deep connection between contemporary art and the local community.

Festivals of Goa is open to visitors from November 9, 2025, to January 18, 2026, offering a once-in-a-decade opportunity to experience the state’s cultural richness, artistic diversity, and communal spirit at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne.