Projects

How can public art go beyond the gallery spaces further into public spaces, engaging with people from all walks of life? This is what we tried to understand through our recent public space artwork “Traveling Balcaos” in collaboration with with Goa-Mumbai based practice Urbz. 

“Traveling Balcaos” was an itinerant public art installation as a commissioned artwork curated by artists Thukral and Tagra at the Serendipity Arts Festival held in Panjim, Goa over 15-22nd December 2024. The traveling project was designed to create conversations in the public spaces of the city on community, identity and belonging in the context of a rapidly changing Goa. The installation shared the diversity of the voices from across the city, connected by the common thread of migration and dualism of home. 

Balcaos are the traditional verandah/porch seats in Goan houses which we drew inspiration from and took around mobile versions of, across Panjim main market, the bus stand and the promenade by the sea, as a spontaneous way of creating conversations. The bamboo pavilion we designed took inspiration from the informal markets that set up along the promenade in Panjim. Put together to share the views of people from across the city, the pavilion was made of people’s doodles, writings and projections of their quotes.

We are happy to share that the mobile balcaos have now found a second home in the Bookworm Goa libraries. We would like to thank all our collaborators and the wonderful Serendipity festival volunteers who worked tirelessly including Ashita Matondkar and Karishma Das.