A new public art initiative, Tatvamasi, aims to connect art, climate justice and disability inclusion by engaging diverse communities in co-creating a large-scale public installation that amplifies the voices of climate-vulnerable and marginalised people.

Tatvamasi Circle, a Green Drink gathering hosted by Masud Jamil Khan, Honorary Consul of Ireland in Bangladesh, and curated by GenLab at the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Dhaka, brought together representatives from the diplomatic community, development organisations, civil society, academia, culture, conservation, media and the private sector on Friday.

Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh Gabriel Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru also attended the event.

Green Drink is GenLab's signature dialogue platform designed to foster discussions on climate, environment and nature through ideas, creativity and storytelling, said a press release.

Opening the event, Masud Jamil Khan said Tatvamasi reflects the shared responsibility of people in shaping a sustainable future through art and dialogue.

"Tatvamasi reminds us that we do not inherit the future alone—we create it together. Through art, participation, and dialogue, we are building a movement that celebrates our interconnectedness and inspires collective action for people and the planet," he said.

Ratul Dev, Executive Director of GenLab, presented the vision behind Tatvamasi, describing it as a multidisciplinary initiative grounded in the philosophy that "what happens to one of us happens to all of us."

The project will culminate in an approximately 100-foot-long and seven-foot-high terracotta and ceramic public artwork, designed as a tactile and accessible installation incorporating contributions from artists, persons with disabilities, climate-vulnerable communities, students and cultural practitioners from Bangladesh and abroad.

According to the organisers, the initiative seeks to highlight how climate change disproportionately affects climate-vulnerable communities, persons with disabilities and socially marginalised groups while promoting inclusion and collective responsibility.

Participants also took part in a collaborative clay-making session using clay sourced from the area where material for the future installation is expected to be collected.

They expressed their reflections on relationships with nature and society through clay forms, symbols and textures, demonstrating the project's collaborative approach.

Mohammed Zahidur Rahman, Country Director of CBM Bangladesh, stressed the importance of participation in disability inclusion.

"Co-creation is the soul of Tatvamasi, reminding us that meaningful disability inclusion begins when everyone has an equal opportunity to shape, contribute, and belong," he said.

Water and climate expert Dr Ainun Nishat said the initiative should also inspire greater awareness about protecting marine ecosystems."The sea is far more than water; it is home to extraordinary biodiversity and the foundation of millions of lives. I hope Tatvamasi reflects both its beauty and our collective responsibility to conserve it."

Meher Nigar Bhuiyan, Programme Manager for Resilient Livelihoods at the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, said the initiative would help amplify the voices and lived experiences of climate-vulnerable communities through meaningful partnerships.

Tatvamasi is being developed under the Funding Fairer Futures initiative with financial support from the European Union, co-funding from Irish Aid and in partnership with CBM Ireland.

GenLab, a youth-led think-and-do tank, works on climate action, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and community engagement through partnerships, public programmes and creative initiatives.