An audience-engaged approach to education was taken with the recently concluded first rotation of the Encounters exhibition at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka).
On 22 May, the first of three rotations concluded, and a total of 37 free public programmes were offered to engage audiences of all ages, taking inspiration from the artworks on display. These public programmes were curated by MMCA Sri Lanka staff and formed an important interface between the content in the galleries and the audience’s engagement with it.
As part of the exhibition, workshops were organised, placing specific emphasis on activity-based learning experiences for younger audiences. A workshop by Kiyawana Muddara, for instance, trained young adults to learn history through stamps that have been released on various important moments in Sri Lanka. Stamps are some of the ephemera exhibited in Display 1, focusing on the Non-Aligned Movement, on view until 8 January 2023.
Artists Sabeen Omar and Shahdia Jamaldeen also conducted a workshop about experimenting with storytelling using fabric, sewing, and embroidery, taking inspiration from the much-talked-about artwork White Curtain and Women (2016) by contemporary artist Susiman Nirmalavasan, which was on display as part of Rotation 1.
“Visitors participate hoping to learn about various things, from history to mediums of art. They also want to relax after a long workday, for example, by learning to sew and embroider. Through such workshops, the exhibition space becomes more dynamic and participants end up engaging with the artworks on display without even realising it,” MMCA Sri Lanka Co-ordinator Education and Public Programmes Sharmi Thavayogarajah said.
The Encounters exhibition launched with contemporary artist Pradeep Thalawatta, who spoke about his artwork Extra Special (2008) and how it relates to ideas of friendship and love. Thalawatta’s work was on display as part Encounters Rotation 1, placed in conversation with a
painting by George Keyt, titled The Friends (1982).
Conversations were also held between art patron Malaka Talwatte and Chief Curator Sharmini Pereira about George Keyt and the various personal and professional influences that may have played significant roles in Keyt’s practice. Keyt’s work will also be featured in Rotation 3 of Encounters, which will open on 19 October.
Meanwhile, art historian T. Sanathanan paid homage to artist Asai Rasiah, whose 1970 work (Life) Craftsman) was on display in the same rotation. This was the first public talk about Rasiah’s work since his passing in 2020.
The MMCA Sri Lanka also organised four, themed poetry readings about ideas of love and intimacy. Poets Malinda Seneviratne, Vivimarie Vanderpoorten, Phusathi Liyanaarachchi, Surekha Samarasena, Saumya Sandaruwan Liyanage, and Anar responded to artworks in Display 2 with poems in English, Sinhala, and Tamil. At an open mic event, young and emerging poets aged 16 to 21 read their poetry on the theme “intimacy”. The poetry events brought together a total of 40 participants.
“It is important to curate unique experiences that allow audiences to meaningfully engage with art. In Sri Lanka, we want to encourage a museum-going public. Our aim is to make this a reality in the long-term through regular events and experiences that are accessible and free of charge,” MMCA Sri Lanka Assistant Curator Education and Public Programmes Pramodha Weerasekera said.
In addition to the public programmes, the MMCA Sri Lanka also works directly with schools and universities by organising visits for students that cater to their curriculum needs. In the first three months of Encounters, the museum hosted up to 78 school students and 116 university students.
