Hatch Works, a co-working space in Colombo, is known for its fresh, young interiors reminiscent of the best of WeWork but infused with local sensibilities and global aspirations.
Curated by Brindha Selvadurai Gnanam, the artworks within the space also reflect a similar vibrant energy, featuring Contemporary, Pop Art, and mixed media pieces and sculptures, within the handsome six story colonial building. It is a good example of modern adaptive re-use in interior design.
“Grace by the Water” painting at Hatch
On the second floor, a gallery wall dedicated to multiple Oceanscapes by Safiya Sideek brings in the warmth of the sea. The third floor showcases a massive hanging Installation by Firi Rahman, Lojithan Ram, and friends, composed of waste material in hues of green, orange, and blue. The space also features custom neon designs and humorous Pop culture references, making it an engaging environment to work from.
Among the standout recent acquisitions is a seven-foot-tall acrylic painting of a woman in a purple sari submerged in a river, styled after Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais. This canvas includes identifiable elements like the State Steel Corporation building by Geoffrey Bawa and pays homage to artists such as David Hockney and Claude Monet. The narratives within these visual elements remain engaging and harmonious despite their seemingly disconnected identities.
The fourth floor features three more works embedded with wit and art history references. These include a large composition of gripe water bottles in the style of Andy Warhol, with curious Sinhalese writing and cannibalistic chickens. The two oval frames next to the Gripe Water Piece contain abstract and cubist narratives, also with tongue in cheek Sinhala phrases. These pieces along with the Ophelia piece by artist Bilaal Raji Saheed of Studio Vuttakka use bold colour, text, and humour to lighten the mood and brighten the space.
Installation by Firi Rahman, Lojithan Ram and friends
Hatch Works not only acquires works by young contemporary artists but has also collaborated in the past with Saskia Fernando Gallery for art talks and artist-in-residence programs, the debut featuring digital artist Muvindu Binoy.
The co-working space has also worked with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust to showcase designs by young Sri Lankan creatives through their “Model Ideas” programme, as part of Open House Colombo.
Known primarily as an incubator for tech and agri startups, Hatch was also a pioneer in the NFT scene, with their startup Hyperglade receiving funding from Silicon Valley investor and billionaire Tim Draper in 2023.
As Hatch expands, it will be exciting to see what future projects, programs, and exhibitions they will support from Sri Lanka’s young, innovative, and creative community.
