When was the last time you visited a museum or gallery? Was it last weekend, last year, or perhaps even a decade ago? Whether your visit was to explore an art exhibition or to delve into a specific historical period or location, cultural institutions play a vital role in our society.
Cultural institutions are essential public spaces designed to share knowledge, educate, and encourage curiosity. They offer a platform for people to connect, learn, and engage with both themselves and others in a creative and open environment. However, these spaces can sometimes feel intimidating, exclusive, or simply uninteresting.
When thoughtfully designed, museums and galleries can attract diverse communities, encouraging human expression and fostering societal dialogue and understanding. Conversely, if these spaces are not centered around the community, they risk becoming exclusionary and inaccessible.
The Geoffrey Bawa Trust is addressing these challenges with The Bawa Space, a venue focused on public outreach and creating an inclusive space for cultural, ecological, and creative exploration. Situated in the heart of Colombo on Horton Place, The Bawa Space hosts rotating exhibitions and a dynamic schedule of public programs aimed at engaging a wide audience.
Currently featured is the “Ways of Knowing” exhibition, which utilizes Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga garden to examine various forms of knowledge and information-sharing. This multi-sensory exhibition, showcasing works by Clara Kraft Isono, Barbara Sansoni, and Ruvin de Silva, along with items from the Geoffrey Bawa Collection, includes virtual reality, film, textiles, seeds, maps, and oral traditions. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the exhibits and each other.
“Ways of Knowing” invites inquiry rather than instruction. The installations prompt individuals to reflect on their own knowledge and experiences while considering others’ perspectives on the same subjects. For instance, a mapping exercise asks visitors to create personal maps of Sri Lanka, which are then shared with others.
Collaboration and dialogue were central to the creation of “Ways of Knowing.” Rather than having a single lead curator, the exhibition was a collective effort by the Trust’s curatorial team, ensuring a diversity of ideas and perspectives. The exhibition space is designed to be accessible, featuring step-free access and facilities friendly to wheelchairs and strollers. An audioguide is available for those who prefer listening over reading, and a sensory kit is provided for neurodivergent visitors or those with sensory sensitivities.
The Bawa Space aims to be welcoming for all, with public programming that includes zine-making workshops, guided park walks focused on plant knowledge, and open-mic poetry nights. These events attract diverse crowds from Colombo and beyond. The events calendar also features public lectures, children’s programs, and monthly curatorial tours.
Though “Ways of Knowing” concludes at the end of March, year-round public programming continues at the Trust. Two more exhibitions are scheduled for this year, each featuring events catering to various ages and interests. Furthermore, the Trust is broadening its reach by offering The Bawa Space as a venue for other local organizations’ creative endeavors and planning traveling exhibitions to extend their engagement beyond Colombo.
The Bawa Trust and similar cultural institutions are crucial in promoting inclusivity within communities. The Trust is dedicated to providing accessible spaces where people can gather, share experiences, and form opinions. Fostering diversity in dialogue and offering safe spaces for conversation and listening are fundamental to building robust, resilient communities.
The Bawa Space, located at 42/1 Horton Place, Colombo 07, welcomes visitors from Thursday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This month, a children’s tour and craft workshop will take place on March 14th at 11:30 a.m., and a curatorial tour is scheduled for March 19th at 6:30 p.m.
“Ways of Knowing” is supported by a generous grant from the British Council and Kohler India, the Initiating Partner for the Geoffrey Bawa Trust’s Exhibition Programme.
