Professionals, beginners, children: Museum of Goa inspires generations with art
In this photo essay, we showcase a range of artworks from the Museum of Goa, and curator insights.
Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 975 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
The Museum of Goa (MoG) recently featured four exhibitions across its three spacious floors and outdoor courtyard, titled Side By Side, Seen/Unseen, Where We Gather, and Festivals as Playgrounds. See our coverage of earlier exhibitions at this popular Goa cultural hub here.
“By building a dialogue between art, history and community, MoG seeks to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of Goa’s complex cultural heritage,” museum director Sharada Kerkar tells YourStory.
The exhibitions depicted cultural treasures of Goa such as its diverse festivals. “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,” she describes.
The Side by Side exhibition featured over 50 artworks by 40 artists across mediums. “The images one often sees from festivals are only the surface of moments that burst with movement and action. Beneath them lie gestures of care and contemplation,” Kerkar says.
Featured artists included Salonee Jain, Satyaki Gaonkar, Shivam Harmalkar, Siddesh Mayenkar, Sidhesh Shetgaonkar, Vaibhav Bhagat, Vaibhav Rajamani, and Yuvraj Seth.
“The exhibition invites everyone to look again, to linger between what is visible and what can only be felt. Here, what you see depends on how long you look,” she affirms.
The exhibition titled Where We Gather featured a range of collaborative community projects. “Groups of local artists and artisans have been deeply involved in festival traditions for years, and their installations honour the shared spirit of creativity, craftsmanship and community participation that defines Goa’s culture,” Kerkar explains.
Such collaborative projects reveal that there is always has room for more. “There can be 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,” she says.
These large projects brought together a range of artists including Sharmila Majumdar, Sheena Pereira, Shivam Naik, Sophy Sivaraman, Swajeet Dessai, Tanaji Kashinath Gaude, Thresa Dias, Viraj Naik, and Vishnukant Gaude.
One of the endearing sections at MoG featured young artists aged below nine, who were mentored to develop their own creative responses to festivals. There were residency sessions led by external mentors, including a clay workshop by Nataliia Marynenko and an animation workshop by Nitin Donde.
“In the world of children, magic is normal, and the absurd and the impossible are best friends skipping hand in hand. Children see this world with a clarity many of us have forgotten,” Kerkar reminds us.
Children’s art is far more than cute drawings or a colourful mess. It is a vital form of expression that plays a powerful role in development, communication and connection for both children and adults.
For children, art is one of the earliest and most natural ways to make sense of the world. Before they have the vocabulary to explain complex thoughts or emotions, they draw, paint and create.
A child’s artwork can reveal what excites them, what confuses them, and even what worries them. In this sense, art becomes a language—one that is honest, immediate and deeply personal.
Through creating, children build cognitive skills such as problem-solving, spatial awareness, and decision-making. Choosing colours, shaping figures, and experimenting with materials all strengthen their ability to think critically and independently.
Art also plays a crucial role in emotional development. It provides a safe outlet for feelings that might otherwise be difficult to express. Whether it is joy, frustration, fear, or curiosity, children process emotions through creative acts.
This not only supports mental well-being but also builds confidence. When children see their ideas take form through art, they experience a sense of accomplishment and ownership that reinforces self-esteem.
For adults, children’s art offers a unique window into a child’s inner world. Parents, teachers and caregivers can gain insight into a child’s thoughts and emotional state simply by paying attention to patterns, themes and changes in their artwork.
This can be especially valuable when children struggle to articulate their feelings verbally. In educational settings, art can help adults identify learning styles, developmental progress, and even potential challenges.
Beyond observation, children’s art also reconnects adults with creativity itself. It serves as a reminder of imagination in its purest form—unrestricted by rules, expectations or self-criticism.
Adults often lose this freedom over time, becoming focused on outcomes rather than exploration. Engaging with children’s art can inspire adults to rediscover playfulness, curiosity and openness to experimentation.
Additionally, art creates a shared space for connection. When adults participate in creative activities with children—drawing together, discussing artwork, or simply appreciating it—they strengthen relationships. These moments foster communication, trust and mutual understanding.
In sum, children’s art is not just about developing artistic ability. It nurtures thinking, supports emotional health, and builds bridges between children and adults. It matters because it helps children become more expressive, confident individuals—and reminds adults of the value of creativity, empathy and seeing the world through fresh eyes.
Featured artists at this MoG exhibition on festivals included Abeer Tyagi, Annika Sagar, Atulya Roy, Azurro Patrao, Christoph Homem, lai Desouza, Leo Sidorov, Nayantara Maya Fernandes, Rajvi Rohan Madgaonkar, Ria Maria Lobo, and Shivya Kaushik.
For children, cultural festivals are also spaces where rules can be changed or reinvented. “Children, with eyes unclouded by what we call reality, remind us that imagination is not an escape from the world; it is the way we first learn to see it,” Kerkar signs off.
Now what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?
(All photographs taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Museum of Goa.)