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The first Asian-African Conference, titled the Bandung Conference, took place in 1955 to bring together a group of Asian-African nations representing 54% of the world’s population. The conference was a precursor to the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961, amidst the steeping Cold War between pro-Soviet and pro-USA countries. Sri Lanka was a part of the coalition of nations that formed the NAM to recognize their shared post-independence economic and political struggles.

‘The Bandung Conference’ (1955) by Aubrey Collette (1920–1992) caricatures those in attendance at the Bandung Conference. Sri Lankan Prime Minister General Sir John Kotelawala (1897–1980) is foregrounded next to prominent figures of the NAM, including President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918–1970), and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964). Of the 29 government representatives, Collette also foregrounds the Chinese Premier and Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai (1898–1976). The Chinese Premier is depicted at the corner of the work alluding to China’s emerging influence on conversations related to economic development that was part of the larger agenda of decolonization, self-rule, and non-aggression.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1916–2000), Sri Lanka hosted the 5th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement with 86 countries in participation, on 16–19 August 1976 in Colombo. Bandaranaike was astute with marketing initiatives, and commissioned artistic talent to showcase Sri Lanka through many media such as artwork, commemorative artefacts, and literary publications aligned with the spirit of the NAM.

A central piece of art commissioned for this event is a painting by Senaka Senanayake. This large-scale work was hung in the lobby of Hotel Lanka Oberoi (Cinnamon Grand), in the line of sight of visiting dignitaries. In this painting, animals roam freely within a fantastical landscape visualised through a palette of vibrant greens and browns with hues of aqua blue, grey, and off-white. All the facial features of the animals are noticeably absent, creating a sense of uniformity between the species. Similarly, their bodies are reduced to radiating discs of flat colour, marking out their commonality rather than difference. Such details offer an image of the nation in equilibrium with the forces of nature, while underlining the idealism and optimism held out for the Non-Aligned Movement.

Moreover, Bandaranaike had commemorative Five and Two Rupee coins issued by the government of Sri Lanka. The coins depict the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), established in memory of the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike (1899–1959). Built between 1970 and 1973, the BMICH was gifted to Sri Lanka by the People’s Republic of China. This was in response to a request made in 1968 by Premier Bandaranaike for a fully equipped conference hall, as part of preparations to host the 5th Non-Aligned Summit Conference. The coins commemorate not only the Summit, but also the diplomatic relationship that was being laid between China and Sri Lanka.

Following the declaration of Sri Lanka as a republic in May 1972, a national emblem was designed by the ‘National Emblem and Flag Design Committee’. The emblem included the petals of the blue lotus flower which is a symbol of purity and detachment in Buddhist culture.

The Lotus imagery makes an appearance in two publications from the period, both of which are on view in Display 1 of ‘Encounters’. In 1968 the Afro-Asian Writers’ Bureau published a bulletin entitled ‘The Call,’ and a trilingual quarterly journal entitled ‘Afro-Asian Writings.’ The latter was renamed as ‘Lotus: Afro-Asian Writings’ in the 1970s, and is considered as one of the most important and prolific contributions to Cold War era anti-colonial ‘Third Worldist’ literature.

It is evident through these many ‘Encounters’, that Sri Lanka has risen above murky waters and established strong diplomatic ties across the globe. ‘Encounters’ so richly raises our awareness of where Sri Lanka was headed between the 60s and the 70s. It exemplifies what 50 years of encounters and leadership can manifest and create.

For more information on the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka, visit www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/

The second edition of the #SupportLocalArt: The Talk Series, curated and organised by the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) took place from 24 July to 14 August 2022. Initiated by the Saskia Fernando Gallery and supported by Nations Trust Private Banking, the first edition of the series took place in 2021. 

“The #SupportLocalArt Talk Series was launched during a Covid lockdown with the intention of creating further collaboration and conversation within the Sri Lankan art industry,” recalls Saskia Fernando, Director of the Saskia Fernando Gallery. “We soon realised that the best way to sustain the programme was if we passed on to our entire community, thus widening the reach and scope of these discussions. Edition Two of the series was hence presented by the MMCA Sri Lanka during a turbulent time, and its curation was influenced by various elements of the protests within the island in 2022,” she continued. 

The second edition of the #SupportLocalArt Talk Series, curated by the MMCA Sri Lanka, in response to the current economic and political situation in Sri Lanka, consisted of three online talks. Bringing together a host of panellists from different backgrounds and points of view, the talks addressed the role of art in relation to community, cultural diplomacy, and humour.

The first talk, #SupportLocalArt Talk: The Power of Community which took place on 24 July 2022, was a conversation between Sandev Handy, Curator at the MMCA Sri Lanka with Kamala Vasuki (artist), Shamara Wettimuny (academic), and Venuri Perera (artist) about the role of community in relation to their activist practices. The talk responded not only to the current momentum of the ‘aragalaya’ in Sri Lanka, but also to the ways in which the artists in the panel have combined their art with activism and community to spread awareness and build audience engagement. 

In the second talk, #SupportLocalArt Talk: The Power of Diplomacy held on 7 August 2022, Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator at the MMCA Sri Lanka spoke to Aurelia Collard (Cultural Attachė, French Embassy in Sri Lanka), George Cooke (academic and diplomatic historian), and Kelly McCarthy (First Secretary, Public Affairs Section, US Embassy in Sri Lanka) about the role of diplomacy in arts and culture in Sri Lanka. The talk highlighted the history of cultural diplomacy and the soft power role of cultural work to raise issues that traditional forms of cultural diplomacy cannot do. The panellists compared and contrasted cultural diplomacy in action across time and place in France and the USA. They discussed the numerous challenges as well the opportunities that exist when cultural diplomacy is framed in arm’s length to state policy, where cultural diplomacy can become an effective way to mitigate the negative perceptions created by higher level politics. 

In the third and final talk of the series held on 14 August 2022, Pramodha Weerasekera, Assistant Curator Education and Public Programmes at the MMCA Sri Lanka chatted with Dino Corera (comedian), Gehan Blok (comedian), Gihan de Chickera (political cartoonist), and Sharmini Pereira (art historian and curator) about the relationship between humour and art. The talk highlighted the ways in which the panellists and their peers have used humour in their digital content, theatre performances, and cartoons, in the current moment of heightened economic and political instability in Sri Lanka. The panel also touched on the history of art and humour in Sri Lanka by acknowledging the practices of modernist artists such as cartoonist Aubrey Collette (1920–1992) who went into exile following criticism of his work during the 1950s and 1960s. 

Sanjaya Senarath, Chief Marketing Officer of Nations Trust Bank noted that, “The Bank believes that the partnership with the MMCA Sri Lanka will serve as an opportunity to empower the next generation of artists and art lovers alike. We believe that this talk series serves as a unique platform to reach out to communities and develop their talent and creativity. Nations Trust Bank has been an ardent supporter of local art and artists through its various past initiatives, and together with the MMCA Sri Lanka we look forward to exposing Sri Lankan contemporary art to the new generation, whilst uplifting local artists to a next level.”

Video recordings of all the talks of #SupportLocalArt: The Talk Series Edition Two can be viewed on its YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCylvj8EIwenvXEjCdKQgZ9A and the MMCA Sri Lanka’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mmcasrilanka.

Image: Kamala Vasuki, Venuri Perera, and Shamara Wettimuny in conversation with Sandev Handy, Curator, MMCA Sri Lanka at the #SupportLocalArt Talk: The Power of Community held on 24 July 2022.

Image: Kelly McCarthy, George Cooke, and Aurelia Collard in conversation with Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator, MMCA Sri Lanka at the #SupportLocalArt Talk: The Power of Diplomacy held on 7 August 2022.

Image: Dino Corera, Gihan de Chickera, Gehan Blok, and Sharmini Pereira in conversation with Pramodha Weerasekera, Assistant Curator Education and Public Programmes, MMCA Sri Lanka at the #SupportLocalArt Talk: The Power of Humour held on 14 August 2022.

“How important is the visitor experience to a museum of modern and contemporary art? Does it begin when someone steps foot inside its physical space, or over social media? What motivates people to visit a museum? Do all visitors experience a museum in the same way? These are some of the questions we ask ourselves as we look at how to create the best possible museum experience for our visitors,” says Chief Curator, Sharmini Pereira.

To achieve its vision of establishing a more publicly accessible museum in Sri Lanka, the Museum and Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) needs to build capacity of museum sector personnel, preparing them to not only meet professional standards set by the museum industry internationally but also equipping them with the knowledge required for meeting challenges that are relevant, above all, to the Sri Lankan context. One of the key areas of capacity building for the museum is thinking about ways to facilitate meaningful arts-based learning and engagement experiences for a variety of visitors. 

In early 2022, the museum launched the second phase of its Visitor Educator (VE) programme. Conceived and designed on docent programmes that are hallmarks of professional museum operations and pedagogical approaches worldwide, the VE position and training programme is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. It is at the heart of MMCA Sri Lanka’s learning and training efforts, not only for its internal staff, but also for its public. 

In 2022, the role of Curator Learning and Training was created, underlining the commitment of the museum to educational work over exhibition making. As the first curator to take on this role, Sanuja Goonetilleke, has been involved in setting up and designing the VE programme. Speaking about her work, Sanuja says “VE training covers multiple disciplines including research, collections safety, customer service, pedagogical methods for working with adult and child learners, data collection, making sense of visual art terminology, event management, and public speaking. VEs can transfer the skills they gain through their experience at the MMCA Sri Lanka to a variety of careers within, but also beyond, the world of professional museums in Sri Lanka and internationally. This is what makes it such an attractive role.”

The MMCA Sri Lanka’s VEs play a pivotal role as the first points of contact between visitors and the museum. Learning through art, particularly in the context of a museum, is a relatively new approach to learning in Sri Lanka. Often, school visits to museums are passive, non-interactive experiences with little to no contact with staff who work in the museum. By contrast, the MMCA Sri Lanka takes an entirely different approach by focussing on the quality of the visitor experience from the time they might engage with the museum online to their experience in the galleries and as they leave. MMCA Sri Lanka’s Gallery Manager Thariq Thahireen says “Visiting the museum in person, audiences encounter VEs, who are trained to greet them at the front desk and interact with them inside the galleries. They can be identified by their ‘Visitor Educator,’ ‘Ask Me,’ and ‘Free Tour Guide’ badges they wear in Sinhala, Tamil, and English. Although approaching a VE might not be every visitor’s preferred way of experiencing an exhibition, the VEs are present in the galleries to engage with those who have questions, or want to talk about artworks on display and do a tour of a gallery or the entire exhibition”. 

VEs enable visitors to learn about and engage with the artworks on view, provide context, and introduce close-looking techniques through conversations, tours, and educational activities for children. VEs also support the care of the exhibits in the exhibition, observe health and safety protocols, and assist with the setup of its weekly public programmes. All VEs work part-time on a shift basis, with many of them fitting in their work alongside full-time jobs or studies in the education or arts and design sectors. Since the launch of the programme in December 2019, the museum has worked with over 40 VEs.

“Funding makes so much of what we do possible. While exhibitions are a central aspect of what we do, we rely on the dedication and commitment of our VEs to help break down the barriers for many audiences, who walk into our galleries and may not know how or where to begin taking in what they are looking at.” says Pereira. The VE programme is supported by the Foundation for Arts Initiatives (FfAI) and the Nations Trust Bank. Speaking about their support of the MMCA Sri Lanka, Sanjaya Senarath, Chief Marketing Officer at Nations Trust Bank PLC, echoes the importance of empowering the next generation of change-makers  “As a strong supporter in promoting local art and artists, Nations Trust Bank looks forward to backing the initiatives taken by the MMCA Sri Lanka to expose Sri Lankan contemporary art to the new generation whilst uplifting local artists to the next level.”

Speaking about the preparation that goes into creating the VE programme, Goonetilleke, Curator Learning and Training at the MMCA Sri Lanka, says “Our Visitor Educators are a truly diverse group of young professionals. Some are educators in schools. Some maintain artistic practices in visual, literary, or performing arts. Some work/study in STEM fields but have a strong affinity for the arts and education. For all of them, however, this is the first time they are working in a museum context, and without realising it, helping to build the country’s first museum of modern and contemporary art through their important work.”

Those interested in working at the MMCA Sri Lanka in this role may email their CV to jobs@mmca-srilanka.org.

As a museum in the making, the MMCA Sri Lanka is preparing the ground for a new generation of museum professionals to work at and be involved in delivering exhibition and education programmes, within the context of a modern and contemporary art museum. One of the initiatives through which they are addressing this challenge, is their internship programme. 

At present, the museum offers two types of internships: the University Internship Programme and the Young Professionals Internship Programme. In both cases, interns are given positions that involve working closely with one or more museum staff, and give the interns a taste of working life in a fast-paced museum setting. 

To accompany the University Internship programme, the MMCA Sri Lanka staff are also involved in teaching students enrolled in degree or diploma programmes in Sri Lanka. The dual focus of the university-led programme enables students to gain practical experience in understanding how their studies apply to a professional museum setting. In today’s job market, a qualification is not enough. For many employers, work experience on the job is becoming more and more important. To-date, ten undergraduates from the Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna have interned to work on projects related to art history, education research, and translation. 

For those interested in specific areas of work in a professional museum setting,  the museum offers internships under a programme called Young Professional Internships. Since February 2022, the MMCA Sri Lanka has worked with twelve Young Professional Interns in the areas of exhibitions research, exhibition production, graphic design, digital projects, public programmes, education research, and education data analysis. 

Speaking about the MMCA Sri Lanka’s internship programmes, Chief Curator Sharmini Pereira recalls, “Doing internships at museums was something I was eager to do but, which I did not think I would qualify for. We make a point of offering as many internships as possible at the MMCA Sri Lanka to encourage people to apply. As we continue to improve our internships, I am hopeful that these opportunities will cultivate career paths for young professionals who, like me, never considered a career working in the art industry.” 

Inquiries about internships at the MMCA Sri Lanka should be directed to both education@mmca-srilanka.org and jobs@mmca-srilanka.org.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka showcases work of George Keyt, documenting and creating awareness on select paintings by the Sri Lankan artist

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) works with many lenders and private collectors to curate its exhibitions, with the objective of helping the public to learn more about modern and contemporary Sri Lankan art. In 2021, the museum was given access to the George Keyt Foundation Collection (GKF) which is installed in various offices of the John Keells Holdings Group. It was during this research visit that Chief Curator Sharmini Pereira and Curator Sandev Handy found inspiration for the MMCA Sri Lanka’s second exhibition ‘Encounters’, which places four paintings by Keyt at the centre of four displays of art.

Speaking about the partnership Pereira said, “It was a great opportunity to have a guided tour of George Keyt’s works by Chair of the GKF, Mike Antoniasz, and to see physical works by Keyt because there are no paintings by him on public display that are easily accessible seven days a week.” This observation was a key factor that led Pereira and Handy to consider the inclusion of works by Keyt in ‘Encounters’ which opened to the public in February 2022 and is free of charge.

“The GKF was established in 1988 in the lifetime of the artist and was founded on the principles of promoting the works of emerging artists and Sri Lankan art. We are thrilled to work with an organisation such as the MMCA Sri Lanka, that creates knowledge and documents the works of Sri Lankan artists. Over the years, the foundation has led many initiatives such as the annual ‘Kala Pola’, an open air art fair, the ‘Young Contemporaries’, ‘Nawa Kala Karuwo’, and the ‘Sri Lankan Art Exhibitions’. We aim to preserve the work done by Keyt and have produced several publications on his work, most notably a publication that commemorated Keyt’s Centennial  anniversary in 2001,” said the Chairperson of the George Keyt Foundation Mike Antoniasz.

Speaking about the works displayed Handy commented, “George Keyt is such a well known name in Sri Lanka – yet the public have limited knowledge of his actual works, due to a lack of access to them other than through publications. While the published material is vast compared to many other modern Sri Lankan artists, there are only a few texts that look in detail at specific paintings. With the ‘Encounters’ exhibition we want to familiarise audiences with specific paintings by Keyt, choosing to look closely at four of his paintings namely ‘The Friends’ (1982) and ‘Pounding Paddy’ (1952) which were exhibited from 11 February to 22 May as part of ‘Encounters’ Rotation 1, and ‘The Offering (1949) and ‘Kandyan Bride’ (1951), which will be displayed as part of ‘Encounters’ Rotation 3 from 13 November 2022 until 19 March 2023.” 

“Each of the four paintings provided Sharmini and I with the starting points for  ‘Encounters’. We have created a conversation or ‘encounters’ with other artist’s works,” Sandev further noted, “which sees the inclusion of works by Pradeep Thalawatta (b.1979), Abdul Halik Azeez (b.1985), Aubrey Collette (1920–1992), Martin Wickramasinghe (1890–1976), Asai Rasaiyah (1946–2021), Richard Gabriel (1924–2016), Susiman Nirmalavasan (b.1982), A. Mark (1933–2000), Nelun Harasgama (b.1959), and Janani Cooray (b.1974).” The juxtapositioning of artworks that explore similar subject matter from artists of different generations has been championed by the MMCA Sri Lanka. The curatorial approach contributes to seeing and thinking about art historical narratives in new and unexpected ways.

One of the ongoing problems faced by the GKF is the costs for looking after their collection, which includes the conservation of the paintings and drawings by Keyt. As part of ‘Encounters’, four paintings by Keyt were successfully conserved. Speaking about the conservation work Udaya Hewawasam from ConsArt, commented “The biggest damage was to the wooden stretchers which were almost totally infected by insects (wood worms) thus providing no mechanical stability. In such cases there is no option other than to replace all the stretchers. Only one painting had large paint lost due to a flood. Fortunately, GKF provided a photograph of the painting before the damage occurred, which helped to reconstruct the exact area that had been lost.” Udaya Hewawasam is one of the most informed and experienced conservators of modern art in the country. Sharing Keyt’s work with the public could not have been done without the months of intensive conservation work performed by his conservation studio ConsArt. 

One of the highlights of the conservation process was the discovery of information at the back of the paintings, including details from past exhibitions, and information on the paintings’ titles. Following standard conservation practises, Udaya confirmed how “After these labels were safely detached, they were de-acidified and then relocated to the back side of the painting in safe acid free sealed transparent cases.” 

The MMCA Sri Lanka’s ambition to create a museum of modern and contemporary art is dependent on the work of such experts and professionals in the museum field, who help to reveal information about artworks that shape and inform how curators present the work of an artist. 

‘Encounters’ is generously supported by the European Union, Foundation for Arts Initiatives, John Keells Foundation, and the Nations Trust Bank. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) is an education-led initiative that aims to establish a public museum dedicated to the display, research, collection, and conservation of modern and contemporary art for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public, schools, and tourists. Presenting curated exhibitions and education programmes, the MMCA Sri Lanka is the first publicly accessible trilingual venue of its kind in Sri Lanka.

For more information, visit www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/ 

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) is pleased to announce its first Museum Intensive programme, which has been conceived as a series of focused training programmes that address professional capacity-building needs within Sri Lanka’s cultural sector.

The MMCA Sri Lanka is working in partnership with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, and the Reinwardt Academy at the Amsterdam University of the

Arts, to deliver the first Museum Intensive which is generously supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka.

The Museum Intensive targets cultural sector professionals working in public and private art organisations, who work with collections of art and/or exhibition programmes. The programme will include a significant amount of discussion, project-based learning, and collaborative work amongst participants, who shall benefit from feedback and guidance provided by the visiting professionals from the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and the Reinwardt Academy, with the support of the MMCA Sri Lanka staff.

The inaugural Museum Intensive looks at the subject of Audience Engagement, which has become one of the most significant areas of debate in the global cultural sector. The training programme has been designed to help participants become more familiar with common themes and current debates about audience engagement in order to help organisations they are affiliated with to make long-term commitments that enhance visitor experience, increase audiences, and build a greater public connection to the inspiring work they do. 

“The facilitation team has great expertise on how to think about museums today. Their commitment, knowledge and immense energy are outstanding. With their full focus and stamina, I am sure that the upcoming training programmes are going to be highly successful. The Reinwardt Academy is truly looking forward to this upcoming collaborative training programme,” noted Ruben Smit, Senior Lecturer and Manager International Programmes at the Reinwardt Academy of the Amsterdam University of the Arts.

The first Museum Intensive training programme will take place in-person in Colombo, from 24—28 October 2022.

To apply, prospective participants should email their CV or résumé to education@mmca-srilanka.org by or before the priority deadline of 5 October  2022. They may call +94 76 22 43 120 for further information.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) is an  education-led initiative that aims to establish a public museum dedicated to the display, research, collection and conservation of modern and contemporary art for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public, schools, and tourists. Developing a  professionally qualified team with skills and knowledge for all areas of a museum’s  work is among MMCA Sri Lanka’s key priorities 

To meet this challenge, in 2021, MMCA Sri Lanka conducted a study, funded by the  Netherlands Embassy in Sri Lanka, that looked at the professional development landscape in Sri Lanka’s museum sector. The study highlighted several shortcomings regarding how museums interact or engage with audiences as part of the visitor experience. The research identified how exhibition design, public programmes, and social media contribute to the visitor experience but were not areas that museums were either investing in or recognising as important. The study drew attention specifically to the skills gaps and lack of professional museum expertise, particularly amongst younger professionals. As a next step, MMCA Sri Lanka is organising a series of ‘Museum  Intensives’ (MI) for professionals in museums and collection-based cultural institutions in Sri Lanka. The programme aims to catalyse knowledge-sharing and professional development in under-explored areas in the sector. 

Thanks to the Netherlands Embassy’s continued funding support, MMCA Sri Lanka will work with two primary partners, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE), and the Reinwardt Academy (RA) for the first MI, which will focus on audience engagement. Key to the MI’s design and delivery, both Netherlands-based organisations bring a wealth of experience and international standards in museum training, having worked with partners internationally. The MI will hence strengthen cross-cultural knowledge and expertise sharing between professionally engaged learning organisations in Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, where the shift in focus is on mutual exchange rather than on a one-way conversation.

“The Embassy is proud and pleased to have partnered with MMCA Sri Lanka in this groundbreaking initiative. Sri Lanka has a rich culture in terms of history and heritage and contemporary and modern art. The MI will bring these two together, and engage  Sri Lankan and Dutch professionals. It will be a unique opportunity to exchange,  learn, and inspire. The project will help to strengthen the capacity of Sri Lankan  museum professionals to preserve and promote their culture and to further engage  current and future generations.” 

— Tanja Gonggrijp, Ambassador for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka

The International Heritage Cooperation Programme’s mission is to create a worldwide heritage community, in which professionals connect, learn, and develop knowledge together towards finding solutions to shared challenges.

“We hope the MI will be the start of a long-term cooperation.”  

— Yolanda Ezendam, Head of Collections, International Heritage Cooperation Programme of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the  Netherlands

Reinwardt Academy, based at the Faculty of Cultural Heritage at Amsterdam University of the Arts in the Netherlands, is the second oldest university in the world working in the international field of museum and heritage studies.

“The MMCA Sri Lanka team has great expertise on how to run a museum for our times. Their commitment, knowledge, and energy are outstanding. I am sure that the  training programme is going to be highly successful.” 

— Senior Lecturer and Manager International Programmes, Reinwardt Academy of the Amsterdam University of the Arts

The first Museum Intensive is planned to take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka in October  2022.

“As a museum in the making, our first few years have been spent learning and looking at how we can be relevant to the societies we are located within. The chance to share our learnings with others in the cultural sector feels timely; it encourages greater inter-museum exchanges and networks across the island. MMCA Sri Lanka is  tremendously grateful to the Netherlands Embassy for supporting this initiative that  will usher in new conversations about museums and provide career pathways for  young professionals who would never have considered the museum sector as a  career option.” 

— Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator MMCA Sri Lanka

Presenting curated exhibitions and education programmes, MMCA Sri Lanka is the first publicly accessible trilingual venue of its kind in Sri Lanka. For more information,  visit www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram at instagram.com/mmcasrilanka for updates. For information about the  Museum Intensive in particular, write to info@mmca-srilanka.org.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) is pleased to announce a new working relationship with Nations Trust Bank (NTB), who will be supporting the museum as a major benefactor for a period of three years, from 2022 to 2025. 

Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator, MMCA Sri Lanka, speaking about the partnership said, “The museum is hugely grateful to NTB for its three years of support of the MMCA Sri Lanka. Their funding helps build the MMCA Sri Lanka which is a museum in the making. As we endeavour to build such an institution, we are also focused on building capacity by offering opportunities to a new generation to think about careers as young museum professionals. Empowering the next generation of professionals to tell stories through modern and contemporary art through exhibition-making, public programmes and digital engagement is essential if we are to be relevant to a society of young people that want change, prosperity and inspiring career opportunities in Sri Lanka.” MMCA Sri Lanka prides itself as a cultural initiative focused on building modern and contemporary art for the country and fostering learning and engagement for the public. Alongside its curated exhibitions and education programmes, the museum is the first publicly accessible trilingual cultural initiative in Sri Lanka.

Speaking about the partnership, Sanjaya Senarath, Chief Marketing Officer of Nations Trust Bank, said, “We are very proud to champion arts and culture in Sri Lanka by helping to support the MMCA Sri Lanka. The museum is the first of its kind and is helping to raise the bar in showcasing the work of our modern and contemporary artists in ways that have not been done before. We are committed to giving back to society, through our CSR activities, with a broader view of “Empowering Our Next Generation.” 

For the past 22 years, Nations Trust Bank has supported a range of art-related activities in the country, leading the ways in which the private sector should. The Bank commits themselves to this initiative as an effort to create a sustainable tomorrow. Providing quality education is one of the key pillars of the Bank’s CSR policy which has been derived from the sustainability development goals set by the UN. This association will pave the way for the country’s next generation to enhance their knowledge on modern and contemporary art while helping develop future experts in this field. 

Nations Trust Bank Private Banking creates solutions to satisfy the financial needs of the customer’s lifestyle. Focusing on three main criteria of wealth management, lifestyle and the next generation, Nations Trust Bank Private Banking provides an unparalleled array of products and services that cater to specific everyday requirements of their discerning clientele. Each product and service offer numerous benefits, allowing them to focus on the important task of creating “A Timeless Legacy”. Information on the Art Advisory Service for a creative investment can be seen at https://www.nationstrust.com/personal/exclusive-memberships/private-banking.

MMCA Sri Lanka is located at Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 3, and is open daily from 10am to 6pm, and until 8pm on Fridays. All events of the public programmes at the museum are free-of-charge. ‘Encounters’ is generously supported by Asian Hotels and Properties PLC, the European Union, Foundation for Arts Initiatives and the John Keells Foundation. For more information, visit www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram at instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/ for updates.

The exhibition ‘Encounters’ at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) completed the first of its three exhibition rotations on 22 May 2022. A total of 37 free public programmes were offered to engage audiences of all ages, taking inspiration from the artworks on display. Public programmes are specially curated by staff of the MMCA Sri Lanka and form a hugely important interface between the content in the galleries and the audience’s engagement with it. 

The exhibition launched with contemporary artist Pradeep Thalawatta (b. 1979) speaking about his artwork ‘Athi Vishesha (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 (1901–1993), titled ‘The Friends’ (1982). Visitors were also given the opportunity to hear art historian T. Sanathanan pay homage to artist Asai Rasiah (1946–2020), whose work ‘(வாழ்க்கை) கைவினைஞன்’ ((Life) Craftsman) (1970) was on display in the same rotation. This was the first public talk about his work since his passing in 2020. 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. All places for these free events were sold out, indicating a keen interest from local audiences to engage in discussions with and about artists that deserve greater critical attention. 

The changing displays will foster further public events around the practice of Keyt, whose work will be featured again in Rotation 3 of ‘Encounters’ which will open on 19 October 2022. 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 and generated how interest in modern and contemporary art connects with poetry and the spoken word.

Pramodha Weerasekera, Assistant Curator Education and Public Programmes, said, “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.” All these events are funded with the support of the European Union, the Foundation for Arts Initiatives and, the John Keells Foundation who view the investment in public programmes as essential to the impact that modern and contemporary art can have on society at large.

The public programmes at the MMCA Sri Lanka also place specific emphasis on activity-based learning experiences for younger audiences in the form of workshops. 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. Similarly, Artists Sabeen Omar and Shahdia Jamaldeen 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 (b. 1982) which was on display as part of Rotation 1. Sharmi Thavayogarajah, Coordinator Education and Public Programmes, spoke of the workshops: “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 realizing it.”

Alongside 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. Curator Sandev Handy spoke is interested in the way the MMCA Sri Lanka “can think of the galleries of the museum as classrooms, where learning can go hand in hand with reflection, loitering and playfulness; hopefully encouraging students to return with friends outside of school hours.” The MMCA Sri Lanka team is not only made up of exhibition curators but also curators of education, learning and training. Three dedicated staff members are involved in ongoing discussions with school teachers and university lecturers about the numerous ways in which the MMCA Sri Lanka can work with the formal education sector and how in turn students start to think about the museum industry as a career path.

Entry to the museum alongside all of its events is free. Visitors are encouraged to stay updated about all our events via the museum’s website  www.mmca-srilanka.org and social medias: Facebook www.facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram www.instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/. For any queries about its education and public programmes visitors may also write to education@mmca-srilanka.org. 

On Friday, 20 May from 6 pm to 7 pm, Pradeep Thalawatta (b. 1979) and five of his friends who appear in his artwork, ‘Athi Vishesha (Extra Special II)’ made in 2008 will be in conversation at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka). 

Friendships shape and form each of us. The MMCA Sri Lanka’s current exhibition ‘Encounters’ takes the idea of friendship as a starting point for a display that places Thalawatta’s work in conversation with a painting by George Keyt (1901-1993) on loan from the George Keyt Foundation art collection. Both works explore the subject of friendship as something that is not only special but also intimate. The pairing of artworks by the MMCA Sri Lanka’s curators brings attention to the way this timeless subject has been explored by artists from different generations and through different media.  Seeing the two artworks opposite one another invites comparisons about how the subject of intimacy is represented. Keyt’s painting, titled ‘The Friends’ from 1982, depicts a blurring between male and female and the two heads appear to be more intimate than friends. Both works draw attention to the physical and sensual aspects of friendship, whilst also pointing to the ways in which such friendships are understood and seen through the same gender. 

Join the discussion at the MMCA Sri Lanka, located at Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 03, on Friday, 20 May 2 at 6 pm. All events of the public programme at the museum are free-of-charge. ‘Encounters’ is generously supported by Asian Hotels and Properties PLC, the European Union, Foundation for Arts Initiatives, John Keells Foundation, and Nations Trust Bank. The MMCA Sri Lanka is a cultural initiative focused on building a museum of modern and contemporary art for the country and fostering learning and engagement for as wide a public as possible. To complement its curated exhibitions and education programmes, the museum practices trilingual access and is one of the only cultural institutions to do so in Sri Lanka.

For more information, visit www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/ for updates.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) has extended Rotation 1 of its current exhibition ‘Encounters’ until 22 May 2022. The three artworks that provide the starting points for Rotation 1 include one painting by Senaka Senanayake (b. 1951) and two paintings  by George Keyt (1901–1993) titled ‘The Friends’ (1982) and ‘Pounding Paddy’ (1952). The two paintings by Keyt provide the starting points for two displays that explore stories and ideas about love, intimacy, friendship, and family. The museum has extended this rotation by over a month to allow audiences more opportunities to visit the exhibition and look at artworks by Pradeep Thalawatta (b. 1979) in relation to Keyt’s ‘The Friends’ and further artworks by Asai Rasiah (1946–2020), Richard Gabriel (1924–2016) and Susiman Nirmalavasan (b. 1982) in relation to Keyt’s ‘Pounding Paddy’.

The MMCA Sri Lanka, located at Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 03, is open all seven days of the week from 10 am to 6 pm. Entrance to the museum and participation at all events in its public programmes are free-of-charge. For visitors who cannot visit during daytime opening hours, the museum is open until 8 pm on Fridays. The museum is easily accessible by both private and public transport. 

‘Encounters’ is generously supported by the European Union, Foundation for Arts Initiatives, John Keells Foundation, Asian Hotels and Properties PLC, and Nations Trust Bank. The MMCA Sri Lanka is a cultural initiative focused on building a museum of modern and contemporary art for the country and fostering learning and engagement for as wide a public as possible. To complement its curated exhibitions and education programmes, the museum practices trilingual access, and is one of the only cultural institutions to do so in Sri Lanka. 

For more information, visit www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/ for updates.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka’s current exhibition “Encounters” aims to structure a sequence of changing displays that bring together six encounters between artworks and ephemera from the 1950s to the present. The exhibition questions if a chance encounter between one thing and another alters how something familiar or commonplace is otherwise seen? Can two artworks placed side by side reveal something new about each of them? Putting on another set of lenses, one can argue that through the artwork and ephemera on display that the presence of women and their representation in society is boldly and sometimes subtly expressed. In conjunction with International Women’s Day and the theme #Breakthebias, “Encounters” highlights the presence of women and brings to focus the breaking of bias subconsciously and consciously in Sri Lanka.

A stark reflection of this can be observed in the first body of artworks, artefacts and literary publications that highlight the events from the 5th Non-Aligned Summit Conference held in Colombo in 1976.  In 1961, against the brewing Cold War tensions between pro-Soviet or pro-American countries, a coalition of nations formed the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to recognize their shared independence struggles. Sirimavo Bandaranaike at the time was Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and was Chairman of the summit.  Specially produced stamps with the portrait of Sirimavo Bandaranaike were issued at that period and one could question in today’s context if this was done with a view of breaking a bias in terms of the fact that was the world’s first female prime minister, when she became Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 1960, going on to server three terms in national politics: 1960–1965, 1970–1977 and 1994–2000.  The BMICH was gifted to Sri Lanka in 1970 by the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) in response to a request from then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Sirimavo Bandaranaike for a fully equipped conference hall as part of her preparations to host the conference. The stamp serves as a reminder of the strong diplomatic ties between nations amidst the tensions and the strength of a leader hosting the summit in this instance Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Here again, the symbolism of these acts showcases the constant presence of female leadership within a perceived patriarchal society. 

Another set of poignant artworks representing the family unit from the 1950s to the present day with a painting by George Keyt (1901–1993) from 1952 of an agricultural family pounding paddy, its vivid colours and stylised figures contrasts with the realistically observed working-class family by Asai Rasiah (1946–2020) from 1970. Both paintings describe the family in relation to acts of labour, with the female figure additionally involved with the labour of motherhood. In contrast and by extension, the works by 

Richard Gabriel (1924–2016) and Susiman Nirmalavasan (b. 1982) convey what happens and what is yearned for when a family unit is torn apart, by internal or external disputes. All these bodies of work when viewed together and separately bring the audience’s attention to the women in the family and one may sense the enormous role of the woman being in the labour of love for her family or being the missing link that connects and builds society at large.  

Art has always been a medium of expression that has captured the essence of any community or society. #Breakingthebias will only be further enhanced and realized if we continue to allow for varying mediums of art to be showcased especially those that capture and frame how women have been represented in society. The Museum of Contemporary Modern Art Sri Lanka aims to continue the dialogue and discussion around all things gender, keeping an open mind through the varying artists and artforms that come through its doors. 

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka is a cultural initiative focused on building a museum of modern and contemporary art for the country and fostering learning and engagement for as wide a public as possible. Alongside its curated exhibitions and education programmes, the museum is the first publicly accessible trilingual venue of its kind in Sri Lanka. For more information, visit www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/ for updates.

A review by Arun Dias-Bandaranaike

Confluence, conflict, confusion and comprehension- were literary ‘signals’ that flowed through my consciousness, as I perused the exhibits at this presentation, “Encounters”, hosted by the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA) .

Let me begin with ‘comprehension’. Ceylon, in the 20th century, was headed toward its own self-discovery and the vanguard was formed of artists, writers and creative souls with different motivations, facilities, ability and levels of awareness of history, and geography; convinced as they were, of the relevance of this island in the firmament of world culture.  The Exhibition compellingly presented evidence these creative energies belonged to intellectuals; persons imbued with a sense and a purpose.

I was made aware that in as much as there was Tagore in Bengal, and W.E.B. du Bois defined the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance and its Afro-American verity, Ceylon too, had compelling personalities who drew, painted, sculpted and wrote, effectively calling attention to the uniqueness of the land on which they strode.

Those individuals whose work was selected to represent the period following ‘independence’, had sought to find confluence after the rupture of empire, and they formed alliances and sought fresh avenues to reach out to more of the world than was found in the Atlantic power-alliance and ‘old’ Europe and the colonial experiments, which had wrought much influence in this island over several centuries.

In art, as early as in 1943, the now famous group of painters had already charted a course that recognised the ethos of the people of Lanka. Samples were included of George Keyt and also Aubrey Collette’s telling “social commentary” through art. The earthy impact of Richard Gabriel’s singular style impacts with his own narrative.

In their own way, they dealt with the conflict and confusion in a self-identity of Lanka as emerging ‘nation’.  “Encounters” also powerfully projects the idea that long since 1948, the land is still beset by the same unstable tectonics and fractured fault-lines. The sometimes hideous and generally egregious cultural divisions and class-consciousness, privations and exclusion of segments in what could be a unified society, remain as saddening subjects of several of the works of contemporary artists, and, the symbols of culture such as the “Lotus” are given a degree of treatment fore and aft. 

The Bandung conference in the 1950s (Collette’s take) was the issuing of the call to make something of a once-colonised polity, with its own signature, and similarly in 1976, the same energy was on display, as Non Aligned nations strove to grapple with inequity both in geo-politics and the economics of the ‘south’ and convened in Colombo.  Martin Wickramasinghe’s pithy prose (Viragaya) contributed its own clarity of vision, and the efforts of Ratna Deshpariya Senanayake, through his contra-colonial leaning, built a body of significant work under the Afro-Asian Writers’ Bureau of which he was a prime mover. He was one who also linked with the academics of W.E.B. du Bois’ widow, who continued to nourish the legacy of the African sensibilities and pride in negritude awakened by her husband in the 1920s. 

How wonderful that these disparate elements are found in the same space at ‘Encounters’ at the MMCA Sri Lanka located at Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 03!   Viewers at MMCA Sri Lanka will be rewarded with seeing what Ceylon was and how much of the same prevails in ‘Sri’ Lanka or is lost.

–  Six of the country’s leading arts organisations announce projects and events that celebrate Art, Architecture and Design during the first half of 2022

The year 2022 marks the start of a series of important and unmissable art and architecture events taking place in Colombo involving artists from across the country and internationally.  Six of Sri Lanka’s leading arts organizations are coming together to raise awareness and promote their respective projects to the city’s residents and returning tourists. Each of their upcoming projects clearly positions Colombo as a must-see destination for local and international art. The participating galleries and institutions are Colomboscope, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka), the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, the John Keells Foundation in partnership with the George Keyt Foundation, Saskia Fernando Gallery and Barefoot Gallery Colombo.

Natasha Ginwala, Artistic Director, Colomboscope, speaking at the event said, “We are celebrating the seventh edition of the interdisciplinary art festival Colomboscope that will be the first event to start off art events in the city from 21 to 30 January 2022. This edition of the festival will bring together over 50 Sri Lankan and international artists, especially fostering South Asian dialogue and encounters with cultural practitioners from the diaspora with exhibitions and events spread over six locations in Colombo. Embarking from the words of poet-artist Cecilia Vicuña: ‘Language is Migrant’ – artistic and literary contributions map hybrid belonging, diasporic lineages, and coerced dislocation. Across six chapters, this edition explores how language relations form our selfhood and affinities that outweigh the bind of nationhood and citizenship. Between the counterpoints of stillness and motion, we situate practices that critically explore emancipatory and forced mobility—for we cannot deny that the world as we know it is composed of movement at galactic, human, and atomic levels. Artists compose, decipher and perform as vital travellers and storytellers of our times. Often, repairing relations by drawing material articulations from deep losses, silence and erasures while inventing language forms as bridges between communal narratives, official records, and submerged histories.”

– ‘Encounters’ is an exhibition of Sri Lankan modern and contemporary art that will be launched in February.
– The exhibition will bring together six encounters between artworks from the 1950s and the present.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) announces the launch date of its second exhibition titled ‘Encounters’. The exhibition will be open from 11 February to 28 August 2022, and will be presented at the museum’s new venue at Crescat Boulevard. ‘Encounters’ will be structured as a sequence of changing displays bringing together six ‘encounters’ between works of art created between the 1950s and the present by various artists such as George Keyt, Pradeep Thalawatta, Nelun Harasgama, Senaka Senanayake, Abdul Halik Azeez, and Janani Cooray.

The artworks and ephemera that will be showcased as part of ‘Encounters’ revolve around, and respond to, specially chosen paintings drawn from the John Keells and George Keyt Foundation Collections. ‘Encounters’ provides the public with a rare opportunity to view several artworks from two of the country’s most important collections of art.

Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator, MMCA Sri Lanka, said, “we are excited to announce the launch of our second exhibition. The past two years have not been ideal for exhibition programming around the world, with the unexpected travel restrictions and lockdowns. So, we are really pleased that we can begin this year with a newly curated exhibition which includes 46 artworks by approximately 18 artists along with historically important magazines and photographs. The exhibition has been curated as a series of changing six displays, where five displays are on view for approximately two months and one display will remain on view for the entire six months. We encourage visitors to return to the exhibition for each display changeover as each ‘encounter’ will be different to the previous one.”
During the duration of ‘Encounters’, the MMCA Sri Lanka will be open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Entrance to the museum and participation at all events in its public programme will be free-of-charge. For visitors who cannot easily visit during daytime opening hours, the museum will be open until 8pm on Fridays. The museum is easily accessible by public and private transport at its new venue with ample parking available.

‘Encounters’ is generously supported by the European Union, Foundation for Arts Initiatives, John Keells Foundation, and Asian Hotels and Properties PLC.
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka is a cultural initiative focused on building a museum of modern and contemporary art for the country and fostering learning and engagement for as wide a public as possible. Alongside its curated exhibitions and education programmes, the museum is the first publicly accessible trilingual venue of its kind in Sri Lanka. For more information, visit www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka), the country’s first public museum committed to the display, research, collection and conservation of modern and contemporary art moved to Crescat Boulevard in November 2021. The move to its new location meets its objective of being more accessible to the general public, schools and tourists. The MMCA Sri Lanka was launched in 2019 as a not-for-profit organisation and receives local and international funding. Its first exhibition attracted over 3500 visitors. In addition to hosting 37 school and university groups from across the country. The museum hosted 165 free public events, 11 kids workshops, and 12 trilingual talks by artists, educators and curators during the course of the exhibition. 

Speaking of the location change, Ajit Gunewardene, Chair of the MMCA Sri Lanka Committee said, “the MMCA Sri Lanka’s decision to move to Crescat Boulevard was a strategic one. As a museum in the making, it adds huge value to Colombo’s development post-pandemic. Crescat provides an easily accessible, non-intimidating setting that is a good fit for MMCA Sri Lanka.”

Nayana Mawilmada, Sector Head of the Property Group of John Keells Holdings speaking about the partnership said, “we are delighted to host MMCA Sri Lanka at the newly revamped Crescat Mall. With its central and easily accessible location, Crescat will offer MMCA Sri Lanka an opportunity to showcase the country’s contemporary art to a wide audience.  It brings an essential cultural attraction to enhance Colombo’s tourism offering and we believe that visitors to the mall will enjoy using the multifactorial activities now offered.  With its thought-provoking exhibits and programming for children and adults, we are happy to partner with the museum in showcasing the rich history and social discourses of our society.”

Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator, MMCA Sri Lanka, said, “MMCA Sri Lanka is not the first museum to be located in a shopping mall––there is a history of art spaces being located inside retail environments, especially across Asia, in countries like Japan, India and China. Our new location provides us with countless opportunities to reach audiences who would not otherwise venture into museums of modern and contemporary art. We encourage people to follow us over social media because we have plenty of unmissable events lined up over the next six months. Our goal is to once again create a unique, museum-quality experience that not only raises awareness about the country’s modern and contemporary art but also raises the profile of the city of Colombo itself.”

Crescat Boulevard is located at the heart of Colombo 03, with easy access points from Galle Road and Sri Uttarananda Mawatha. MMCA Sri Lanka is due to open its second exhibition in February 2022, in a 3,800sq. ft space on the second floor of Crescat Boulevard. 

MMCA Sri Lanka is founded upon the values of learning and discovery and is committed to artists past and present, living and working across the country and internationally. Alongside its curated exhibitions and education programmes, the museum is the first publicly accessible trilingual venue of its kind in Sri Lanka.