Goa’s very own cartoonist Alexyz will be celebrating 50 funky years as a Goan cartoonist with a retrospective ‘food for thought’ exhibition accompanied by a cultural bonanza of music, dance, books, food, creative art workshops, demos and competitions across a 10-day event beginning from today at Art Chamber-Galeria de Belas Artes in Calangute
Carrying ‘smileys’ in his pockets, and gifting them free to one and all, this octogenarian is known as one of the most respected cartoonists in Goa. Alexyz (born Alexio Fernandes) doesn’t have to mince words. His 30,000 cartoons speak for him. They make you smile, giggle or laugh heartily as he pinpoints the dichotomy in life around, through the sharp lines in his sketches. These magical cartoons speak of the unspoken, unsaid and need no words to reveal what lies beneath the lines. They hold a meaning within themselves. Celebrating five decades of this soulful journey, Alexyz who will soon turn 80, is all set to celebrate his upcoming birthday ‘in advance’ on October 5.
Ask him why and he shares, “My birthday actually is on October 24. I am celebrating it on October 5 because a friend from Vienna, Marialena Fernandes is available to perform and lead the community singing only on the said date. I will also sing my original songs.” The celebratory fiesta is curated by 50 of his friends, most from St Xavier's College and Sophia College in Mumbai, who are now settled in Goa including Norma and Claude Alvares, author Anita Pinto, poet Tino D'Sa. Enjoying every moment Alexyz doesn’t wait for ‘special days’ for celebrations.
“We live only once. Make the best of that time. Leave behind a legacy that we have done as much good we could in our own little way. Smile. Spread Laughter. Laugh along with me in Hasya Yoga (laughter exercise). One of my songs will be a laughter song,” says Alexyz who follows a routine of yoga, walking, laughter, singing with a daily dose of reading news, writing poems, drawing cartoons and gardening. Though not active on social media, he gets involved in events and protests. “My Life is loaded. It sums up in four words – Never a dull moment,” he quips.
Alexyz still does cartoons and writes poems. He has published six books and will be publishing four more before his year-long celebration ends. Admitting that his career has been quite pathetic because he was never paid the salary laid down by the wage board, but he carried on because he was passionate about his work. He was happy that he created awareness about social issues and students, activists enlarged his cartoons, carrying them at protests on social/environmental issues.
Alexyz recalls being paid a decent wage when he joined a national daily that came to Goa. And his big bonus came when the Goan Diaspora sponsored his exhibitions abroad. “I was invited to Dubai, Kuwait, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Portugal. Keith Vaz the British Labour MP organised my exhibition in the House of Commons in England where l met the British Prime Minister and other ministers,” he proudly remembers.
The widely travelled man worked in various newspapers and magazines, expressing himself through lines, words and colours. Some of his memorable moments are when he was honoured for ‘Humour at the Salão Nacional de Caricatura – Oeiras Portugal in 1998 over 56 European cartoonists. Many other honours came his way in England and New Zealand. In 2019 the Goa government honoured him with the Goa State Cultural Award for Painting and Community Promotion.
Considering its size...Goa will be the ‘Sin City’ of India, predicts the cartoonist. “But there is hope that the horrific picture l have painted can be reversed if Goans wake up now and start a silent or loud revolution to stop its downward slide,” he feels. With Goa’s landscape rearranging itself into concrete jungles, his timeless, thought-provoking illustrations laced with sarcasm and satire, whisper about the bygone era. The fearless cartoonist has single-handedly taken on Goa’s socio-political institutions and its administrators in cleverly disguised attacks over the years, using his knockout punches.
Stepping into eighty, Alexyz voices his concern for the elderly, “For the safety and wellbeing of senior citizens, the State must support and protect them, especially the poor and lonely who are most vulnerable. Dedicated social workers in every village should keep a regular recorded watch on them to cater to their health and social security, financial and psychological needs. To abandon or neglect them in their old age, either by the State or family members should be declared as a crime. It is only by this declaration that the trauma of old age will be converted into their golden years.”
10-day birthday celebrations of
cartoonist Alexyz begins today
Goa’s veteran cartoonist Alexyz (born Alexio Fernandes) will be celebrating his birthday over a 10-day event beginning on October 5 at Art Chamber-Galeria de Belas Artes in Calangute with the launch of a retrospective exhibition and a musical performance by Vienna based global diva Marialena Fernandes at 5 pm. Alexyz, Anita Pinto, Marialena Fernandes, Prasad Pankar, Norma and Claude Alvares, Carlos Gonsalves and Arthur Fernandes will participate in the musical bonanza.
Ye Olde Goan Brass Brand of Xavier de Moira (Paklo) will perform at 6 pm and pop musician Linda Diniz at 6.30 on day one. On October 6 Sabina Da Cunha will display Mollam exhibition decor. On October 7 poet Anita Pinto will moderate humorous poetry recitals on ‘Goa’. On October 8, Lulu Fortes, an international singing star, will celebrate Konkani Day with Kantaranchi Sanz – an evening with Konkani songs. A documentary on Konkani tiatr will be screened by cinematographer Nalini Elvino Sousa.
‘Cantaram’ , a demo played on vintage vinyl gramophone records by curator Leaxan Freitas, will be on October 9. There will be an exhibition display on October 10. On October 11 a documentary on Alexyz will be presented by UK cinematographer Kurt Fernandes. Vibrant Drum Circle by Zappy Arthur Fernandes on October 12 and on October 13 (World Goa Day), landscaper and floral designer Daniel D’Souza will create a flower arrangement demo and Festakar Marius Fernandes will curate a Festa de Goa. Konkani songs and Kottecho nach curated by Dr Glenis Mendonca and Bryan Fernandes, Patolleo and pudde workshop by Dr Gwendolyn, Rotessaa workshop by Santan Rebello and Bolkanvamcher Gazalli' by Miguel Braganza and Celso Fernandes will be the highlight of the day. World Goa Day song with lyrics by Alexzy and song, music, video by Rabin and Raj D'Pietro will be sung followed by a workshop on medicinal plants conducted by the dean of Agricultural College Dr Suresh Kunkalicar.
October 14 will have a sale of nursery plants and a fruit eating competition. The grand finale of Alexyz exhibition, sale of plants, ‘Humour in photographs’ (competition/exhibition) by Prasad Pankar will be held on October 15. A sweet dish competition of traditionally home-made dishes, dance, prance, sway gyrate, and pirouette and laugh-the-show-away with iconic and innovative national awards ceremony will follow. The vibrant and wow super mom Cecille Rodrigues will be honoured.
