The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) will launch a series of free public programs for ‘88 Acres: The Watapuluwa Housing Scheme by Minnette De Silva’. As the exhibition comes to a close on July 7,2024, these events offer a last opportunity for visitors to engage deeply with the work and legacy of Sri Lanka’s pioneering woman architect, Minnette De Silva (1918–1998).
A free Artist Tour will take place on Saturday, June 15, from 3–5 pm. Here, contemporary artists Irushi Tennekoon, Sumedha Kelegama, and Sumudu Athukorala will lead a special tour of ‘88 Acres’, where you can also hear more about their specially commissioned film ‘is this an architectural documentary?’ (2023) which is currently on display in ‘88 Acres’.
You can also join free Exhibition Tours of ‘88 Acres’ every Sunday from June 2 to 30 from 11 am to 12 noon, led by knowledgeable Visitor Educators of the MMCA Sri Lanka. Drop by to gain deeper insights into De Silva’s groundbreaking architectural work through a Sinhala language Exhibition Tour held on Saturday, 29 June from 11 am to 12 pm.
The MMCA Sri Lanka will also curate a free Gallery Talk titled ‘Contemporary Approaches to Community Housing’ with Prof. Nihal Perera, Emeritus Professor of Urban Development at the Ball State University, USA and architect Sumedha Kelegama on Friday, June 28 from 6 to 7 pm. Here they will discuss contemporary approaches to community housing in Sri Lanka, with a special focus on the Mahaweli Towns built as part of the Mahaweli Development Project in Sri Lanka.
Those who are interested can join the MMCA Sri Lanka for a month of free artistic and educational engagements as they celebrate the legacy of architect Minnette De Silva. All public programs at the MMCA Sri Lanka are free, and prior registration on the Museum’s Eventbrite page is required. For more information and updates, please visit the MMCA Sri Lanka website at www.mmca-srilanka.org or follow them on Facebook (facebook.com/mmcasrilanka) and Instagram (instagram.com/mmcasrilanka).
