Ways of Knowing: why we need spaces for thought, interaction, and creativity

When did you last visit a museum or gallery? Last weekend, last year, last decade? Perhaps it was for an art exhibition, or to learn about a specific time period or place.

Cultural institutions exist to share, educate, and invite questioning. They are important public spaces that offer people the chance to connect and learn, both with themselves and with others, in an open, creative environment.  Sometimes, though, they can feel daunting and exclusive, or just boring.  

When designed thoughtfully, these spaces attract diverse communities from different backgrounds and perspectives. They encourage human expression and strengthen societies by fostering dialogue and understanding. But if they are designed without the community at their centre, they can also be exclusionary and inaccessible.  

The Geoffrey Bawa Trust is working to combat this perception of exclusion through The Bawa Space, a building dedicated to public outreach and developing an alternative space for thinking about and interacting with culture, ecology, and creativity. Located in the heart of Colombo on Horton Place, The Bawa Space hosts rotating exhibitions, as well as a vibrant public programming schedule designed to appeal to a varied audience.

Currently on show is the Ways of Knowing exhibition, which uses Geoffrey Bawa’s garden, Lunuganga, to explore different forms of knowledge and the ways we learn, store, and share information.  Bringing together works by Clara Kraft Isono, Barbara Sansoni, and Ruvin de Silva, alongside objects from the Geoffrey Bawa Collection, this multi-sensory exhibition spans virtual reality, film, textiles, seeds, maps, and oral traditions—inviting visitors to talk, touch, and interact with the exhibits and each other.

Ways of Knowing asks rather than instructs. The installations encourage people to think about the basis for their own knowledge and experience, while also considering how others perceive the same place or installation. The mapping exercise, for example, asks visitors to create their own maps of Sri Lanka and then leave them for others to look at.

Collaboration and dialogue were ingrained in Ways of Knowing from the outset. Instead of a lead curator, the exhibition was a group effort by the Trust’s entire curatorial team, allowing for a diversity in ideas and perspectives, and bringing light to potential challenges that some visitors may encounter. Located on the ground floor with step-free access and wheelchair and stroller-friendly facilities, the team designed the exhibition space to be open and easy to navigate for those with mobility restrictions. There is also an audioguide for visitors more comfortable listening rather than reading, and a sensory kit for neurodivergent visitors or those with sensory sensitivities.

Just as the Bawa Space is designed to be welcoming to all, so too is the public programming. From a zine-making workshop to guided park walks on the knowledge of plants, and an open-mic poetry night, the exhibition has played host to a wide variety of events, drawing diverse crowds from across Colombo and beyond. Public lectures, children’s programming, and monthly curatorial tours round out the robust events calendar.

Ways of Knowing closes at the end of March, but public programming at the Trust is year-round. Two more exhibitions are planned for this year, both of which will include events for all ages and interests. Additionally, the Trust is expanding beyond its own programs by offering the Bawa Space as a venue for creative pursuits by other local organisations.  There are also future plans to expand engagement beyond Colombo with travelling exhibitions. Rather than expecting people to travel to the Bawa Space, the Trust aims to be more inclusive and accessible by taking exhibitions and events to the people.

The Bawa Trust and other cultural institutions play an important role in fostering inclusivity in communities. The Trust is committed to continuing to provide accessible spaces where people can come together, share experiences, and form opinions.  Encouraging diversity in dialogue and providing safe spaces for people to talk, share, and listen is fundamental for strong, resilient communities.

The Bawa Space is located at 42/1 Horton Place, Colombo 07 and is open Thursday–Sunday, 11.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m.  This month’s children’s tour and craft workshop is on March 14th at 11.30 am, and the curatorial tour will be held on March 19th at 6.30 pm.

Ways of Knowing is supported by a generous grant from the British Council as well as Kohler India, Initiating Partner for the Geoffrey Bawa Trust’s Exhibition Programme.