Nhoi: The Goa River Draw

Nhoi, a project to document the River through drawing and stories has resulted in a set of 13 mural panels on paper, the Nhoi Storyboard and audio visual documentation that recorded personal statements on the histories, culture and reflections on the river and its many influences on the lives of its people. The Nhoi project began in January 2018 with the final Drawing completed in December following a succession of open access workshop drawing sessions based in riverside villages. Upwards of 500 people, aged 3 to 93, from 12 communities responded to the invitation we offered to be part of the project and to come along and draw their feelings and ideas about the river that they know and love and about which they have concerns for the future.

It is a multi-layered project that has produced a highly informed and informative work of art by non-professional artists and an experiential commentary on the essential nature of the Madhei/Mandovi River both in itself and more broadly, on water as a primary resource and its importance to all of us.

The Nhoi: Goa River Draw is the largest drawing of its kind in India, recognizing, developing and promoting the skills and creativity of hundreds of Goan people and children in collaborative artistry to create a contemporary meditation in images, words, memory and action on the planet’s most precious resource.