This exhibition in Goa is an artistic ode to women's strength

In the din of our daily lives, we forget to look around and see human stories unfolding around us. One such story lies in the act of women carrying loads on their heads, an activity rooted in necessity and resilience.

Two well-known Goan women artists, Harshada Kerkar and Chaitali Morajkar, explore this resilience, the aspirations women hold and the various weights they carry, in a unique exhibition, What Women Carry, that is being showcased at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne, in North Goa.

The themed artworks at the dual-artist exhibition were unveiled recently at the exhibition’s preview at the Pilerne-based museum in North Goa.

Kerkar’s artworks offer a metaphor for the various weights women carry daily. Through her curious gaze, she explores the women in Goan and the different loads they carry on their heads. She allows the visitors to pause and acknowledge the weight in all its complexities.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING: The artworks of Chaitali Morajkar on display at the Museum of Goa in Pilerne.

“When I think about the women I’ve met in my , I see their quiet strength. This exhibition is a way to acknowledge the same,” Kerkar shared. “It’s about acknowledging the weight they carry, both in their hands and in their hearts.”

Chaitali Morajkar’s art, on the other hand, reimagines a world where women exist beyond societal expectations. Using the traditional Goan kudnem (pot) as her , her painting involves surreal figures in motion, free from imposed limitations.

The interplay of symbolism and detail invites viewers to question the roles women are expected to play. “For me, is about transformation,” Morajkar reflected. “I want my work to make people think—what does freedom look like? What happens when we let go of what weighs us down?”

What Women Carry presents weight not just as a challenge, but as something that also holds meaning and possibility. It acknowledges struggles while offering space for new perspectives. Visitors find themselves connecting with the themes, reflecting on the balance between endurance and liberation.

POWER OF ART: Visitors view the artworks displayed by Harshada Kerkar, delving into the world of her creativity.

“This exhibition is about more than weight; it’s about legacy, resistance and change. It encourages reflection on what it means to be a woman today,” Director at the Museum of Goa, Sharada Kerkar, said while underlining the exhibition’s significance.

Sharada Kerkar, Director, Museum of Goa This exhibition is about more than weight; it’s about legacy, resistance and change

With its raw honesty and layered storytelling, What Women Carry stands as a powerful tribute to the lived experiences of women—their ability to endure, as well as the social and personal that they represent.

The exhibition will remain open to the public until May 18, 2025, inviting visitors to witness and engage with the artistic expressions of two renowned figures in Goa’s art landscape.