Where We Gather – Collaborative Community Projects

Introduction

This exhibition reiterates MOG’s commitment to bringing Goa’s stories to you by reflecting on this land’s shared histories, interfaith practices, and evolving traditions. With 4 shows, 90+ artists, and 100+ artworks, this exhibition will present the many known and unknown festivals of Goa, centering on the people and communities that bring them to life.

Festivals are the stories communities tell about themselves. Viewed anthropologically, festivals are more than celebrations—they are how communities express their values, adapt to change, and reaffirm belonging.

Goa’s festivals, shaped by the various religious regimes and regional history, do not offer a single culture but a mosaic of many. They remind us that coexistence is not just about tolerance, but about participation and continuity. Through these collective expressions, we see how Goans understand their environment, their faiths, and each other, making festivals one of the most complete reflections of Goan life itself.

French Sociologist, Emile Durkheim, sees feasts and festivals as an ‘effervescence’, the intensity of which cements the solidarity of a group, a representation of the invisible relationships between man and the laws of nature, a veritable institution whereby the bonds between the members of a society are maintained, regenerated, and reproduced.

Through photographs, collaborative installations, multimedia artworks, and a children’s art show, Festivals of Goa becomes both a mirror and a map: reflecting on the many ways through which the people of Goa negotiate modernity, memory, and identity.

Background

Established in 2015, MOG has been a platform for artistic expression and innovation, working with over 500 artists from around the world and hosting more than 600 exhibitions and events. Every year, the museum brings together approximately 70,000 visitors, including tourists and over 12,000 students from Goan schools, providing a unique opportunity for people to engage with Goa’s history and culture through art.

By building a dialogue between art, history, and community, MOG seeks to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of Goa’s complex cultural heritage.

The ‘Festivals of Goa’ exhibition is a significant milestone in the museum’s journey, marking its 10th anniversary celebrations.

About the exhibition

The collaborative community projects as a part of ‘Festivals of Goa’ feature 3 huge art installations that are an artisan-led intervention reflecting on the role of community-based art practices and their power to unite, celebrate, and transform our societies. This component explored how festivals are not simply reflections of society; they are the very means through which ‘the social’ is created, maintained, and renewed.

This show features 3 art installations of a Narakasur, a Christmas tree made of crochet, and a giant Matoli, traditional community art practices that lie at the core of Goan celebrations. Created collaboratively by groups of local artists and artisans who have been deeply involved in these traditions for years, the installations honour the shared spirit of creativity, craftsmanship, and community participation that defines Goa’s culture. Through this showcase, the Museum of Goa reaffirms its commitment to making art accessible to all by opening its space to diverse creators and by recognising the vital role that local artistic practices play in shaping our collective identity and everyday life.

‘Where we gather’ is a place that always has room for more, for dreams of what is possible to grow bigger and bigger. Every festival is a rehearsal for hope, a chance to imagine and become more than ourselves.

Participating Artists

Akash A Gaude | Alcia D’Souza | Andria Reny Afonso | Arlene Saldanha | Ashved Priolkar | Ayush Dessai | Bhaktesh Naik | Brijesh Naik | Carol Braganza | Celia Menezes | Chetan Gaude | Datta Shambhu Naik | Deepa Bharne | Desiree Albuquerque | Dipesh Kurpaskar | Elvina Mendes Sequeira | Ermelina Pereira | Freda Coutinho e D’Souza | Ganesh Velip | Gaurang Naik | Harsh Dessai | Hilda Maria Vaz | Iris Menezes | Jennifer Fernandes | Julie Fernandes | Krutik Naik | Lalita Braganca | Louisa Rebello | Michelle Da Costa Gomes | Minnette Andrade | Mukesh Gaude | Nandhish Gaude | Parag G Naik | Queenie Furtado | Rohan Gaude | Saeej S Naik | Sahil Gaude | Saidnya D Naik | Sanija S Naik | Sanjay S Naik | Sarvesh Gaude | Sarvesh Gaude | Shailesh Gaude | Sharmila Majumdar (Azul Crochet) | Sheena Pereira (Crochet Wise) | Shivam Naik | Shubhank D Naik | Siddhesh Naik | Sophy V. Sivaraman | Swajeet Dessai | Tanaji Kashinath Gaude | Thresa Dias | Vinay T Naik | Viraj T Naik | Vishnukant Gaude | Yasmin Barreto Miranda Abranches