As we build our cities, at the cost of nature, we end up displacing existing natural fauna to make concrete structures. However, when these structures are abandoned and undergo natural decay, nature begins to reclaim its own. Located at a site that perfectly exemplified this phenomenon - amidst a few deserted shops in a lane in the middle of Panjim, an exciting project took shape during St+art Goa 2018 - the Guerrilla Residency project.
Realised by artist Amitabh Kumar, in collaboration with street artists Rutva Trivedi, Anpu Varkey,DAKU and Miles Toland, the Guerrilla Residency project revitalized six abandoned shops in a dilapidated area of Panjim to draw a frame around the constant battle between nature and urbanisation. The intervention, made complete by the imagination and creativity of the artists, took to old abandoned stores in a previously trafficked shop lane and brought them back to life.
Artist Rutva Trivedi created a piece titled 'Online addiction’ in one of the deserted stores. Her artwork is a reminder of our growing addiction to social media, coming as a regulatory check on arm-chair consumerism that forces us all to stick to the screen and chair.
After her work in the Mahim East Art District in Mumbai, artist Anpu Varkey also came to Goa to collaborate in the Guerilla Residency Project. Exploring the idea of creating a ‘home’ in the wilderness, the artist created pieces in two stores.
American artist Miles Toland wanted to present his point of view of how art can get out of the museums and invade the streets.
