Reimagining Camoes through the canvas of Goan artists

Interpreting poetry, especially from past eras, can be challenging — but it get easier to understand when expressed through other art forms.

That’s exactly the experience awaiting you at the art exhibition, titled ‘Os Rostos de Camoes – A Celebration of 500 Years of the Global Poet’ at Instituto Camoes, Panjim.

At the exhibition, eight Goan artists — Francis DeSousa, Nishant Saldanha, Shailesh Dabholkar, Verodina Ferrao, Viraj Naik, Vitesh Naik, Yolanda de Sousa Kammermeier and Savia Viegas — through their works, have interpreted the poetry of Portugal’s iconic poet, Luis de Camoes (1524-1580).

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INSPIRATION BEHIND THE EXHIBITION

The exhibition, organised by Instituto Camoes, Panjim, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Portugalin Goa and Camoes–Centro de Lingua Portuguesa, commemorates the 500th birth anniversary of Camoes.

Camoes, who spent 14 years in exile in Goa, was the only European poet of the 16th  century to travel across continents, spending much of his adult life in Asia and Africa. 

This work is widely regarded as the most important work of Portuguese-language literature, and celebrates the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama.

His grand narrative, Os Lusiadas, considered to be ‘an epic to humanism’ was scripted during his seventeen years away from Portugal. This work is widely regarded as the most important work of Portuguese-language literature, and celebrates the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama. 

In 1554, Camoes was granted reprieve from a Portuguese prison sentence on condition that he sail to India. As the only European poet to have lived in both Asia and Africa, his journey subjected him to solitude, longing, new experiences, and deep reflections that shaped his work.

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CONTEMPORARY VIEWS

The director of CLP-Camoes Goa, Delfim Correia da Silva, informs that this exhibition is part of a series of events commemorating 500 years of the poet, and includes conferences, talks and other programs.

He emphasises that the exhibition seeks to portray Camoes not merely as a Portuguese poet, but as one shaped by his time in Goa. 

“His writing took another literary expressionwhen he moved to the East, especially to India, and Goa, in particular. His poetry would have been completely different if he had not been here,” states da Silva. 

In 1554, Camoes was granted reprieve from a Portuguese prison sentence on condition that he sail to India.

Da Silva hopes the exhibition will inspire people to not only read Camoes, but also to translate his poetry into Indian languages.

Artist and writer, Savia Viegas, who has curated the exhibition says, “Curating this exhibition was an eye-opener for me because I don’t think my generation has read Camoes. For many of us, it is just the name of the road or the huge statue found in our museum.”

“When you read Camoes, you understand so much about navigation, early forays into colonisation. And, looking through the eyes of a poet who was a non-conformist, at times, very revolutionary and who had contemporary ideas about love, peace, etc,” she adds.

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While explaining the artists’ work, Viegas adds, 'What these artists have painted is a blend of his thoughts and their own responses."

"This exhibition is a unique and fitting way to remember a poet, especially at a time when people are reading less. It allows us to revisit the past and view it through contemporary eyes,” she mentions.

DETAILS

WHAT: 'Os Rostos de Camoes – A Celebration of 500 Years of the Global Poet' (art exhibition)

WHERE: Instituto Camoes, Panjim

WHEN IT'S OPEN: Till Saturday, August 2, 2025

TIMINGS: 10 am – 5.30 pm

CONTACT: +91 70306 55664