Every time we think about Goa- the beautiful beaches, lingering seafood and culturally diverse atmosphere are the chief thoughts that come to our mind. But Goa has so much more to offer. We hardly know about the rich heritage of Goa which now by hook or by crook is besieged for attention.
Kaavi art painting is what we are about to unleash. It’s one of the most sacred and oldest art forms of the Goan cultural heritage. Today on the verge of becoming a dying art form, Kaavi art is a form of painting in the Konkan region temples, houses, small shrines and walls of Roman Catholic Churches of Goa.
The term Kaav in Konkani refers to Indian red pigmentation which is the only color used in the art form which is obtained from the laterite soil. The specialty of the art form is its technique of application on the wall murals: the reddish wall painting is artistically drawn against the white sandblasted background. Thus the wall paintings and kaavi wall art images represent goa folk art.
Centuries ago, mural artists and painters arrived on the shores of the Konkan belt, bringing with them a unique art form that etches tales from folklore and local culture. This unique but largely-ignored technique of wall art, known for its use of the rich Konkan red soil, is today fading away.
One theory is that Kaavi came from the plains of the Saraswati, and took root in Goa around 600 years ago, when its practitioners, mainly Saraswats, migrated to Goa to escape political and environmental adversities.
The name Kaavi is derived from the local name for the maroon-red pigment made from laterite soil which is used to etch beautiful reddish-brown murals in lotus motifs and other floral patterns in religious as well as secular institutions. Over the centuries, these murals have given a distinct identity to shrines, temples, churches and mosques on the Malwan, Konkan and North Malabar coasts, transcending linguistic, religious and communal barriers along the way.
Unlike today’s painting process, Kaavi is a labour of love, requiring patience and skill to produce intricate monochrome motifs that go on to weather time and the vagaries of nature.
Traditionally, kaavi wall art can be seen on walls, columns and ceilings, while also being used to delineate sacred spaces and niches in temples and homes. Circles, semi-circles, triangles, squares, hexagons, and octagons are employed by the artist to weave a mosaic that is not only impressive but also depicts the culture of the time.
The Charles Correia Foundation based in Panaji has identified and documented 21 temples and four houses in Goa that have Kaavi present on them. Temples from Pernem, Sattari, Canacona, Ponda displayed Kaavi murals.
Kaavi is also a testimony of the early Hindu bid to escape the Inquisition. Early motifs of Kaavi mostly involve aquatic life such as lotus and waves but as the artisans fled Goa, the motifs gained Kanada influences.
A few specimens of kaavi wall art in temples in the Konkan areas can still be seen in parts of Goa, but renovation and reconstruction of these temples spell doom for the fast-disappearing art form.
Preservation of this dying art form does not appear simple either. A debate has been raging over the techniques, especially the use of red oxide, to preserve existing specimens of the art.
A decade ago, the temple of Shantadurga situated at the foothills of the Western Ghats in Caranzol of Sattari, exhibited paintings of gods and goddesses along with floral designs in red patterns. Local villagers demolished the old one and built a new structure, wiping out the age-old Kaavi art.
The state government has also failed to throw its weight behind Kaavi, which is still not widely recognized by art lovers. Very little mention is made of Kaavi in books on art and history, and the current lack of interest in retaining these murals also spells the death knell for this Konkan treasure.
