Growing up, Subodh Kerkar remembers watching his parents painting in their spare time, and happily joining along. “At 18, I wanted to be anything, except a soldier, a priest or a shopkeeper,” he chuckles. Kerkar ended up pursuing medicine, and pursued art as a hobby, much like his parents.
When life as a doctor became routine, however — and he started noticing his artworks being snapped up by collectors — he decided to give an alternate career a go. Today, the artist and founder of the private art gallery, Museum of Goa, is taking his art international. Last Sunday, a playful installation titled The Keel was performed on IJmuiden beach in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with over 50 participants.
This weekend, a movie of it, along with two other installations, will be shown at LaLaLand, a festival showcasing art and music from India, in Ruigoord. The Keel was performed by over 50 participants Answering the ocean’s call It’s been a long journey getting here. “Initially, I started painting portraits and landscapes, but got bored again!” Kerkar says.
“Just because I could draw, didn’t mean I was anywhere close to being an artist. So I trained my eye and knowledge by constantly visiting galleries, museums and biennales — they became my art teachers.” Describing his works as a reflection of his thoughts and a commentary on his experiences, often throwing light on his socio-political beliefs, Kerkar’s works are largely performative, shot across a beachside lan.
