“Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential To be There” Exhibition

March 18, 2023

India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, inaugurated the “Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential To Be There” exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi on Friday. Jointly organized by the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, and the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, the exhibition features the works of Sri Lanka’s late iconic architect, Geoffrey Bawa.

Geoffrey Bawa is one of the most significant architects in Sri Lanka and was known for his unique style that combined modernism with traditional elements. He designed many buildings in Sri Lanka, including the Sri Lankan Parliament, which is considered one of his masterpieces. He designed several iconic buildings in India as well. His unique style has had a significant impact on modern architecture in Sri Lanka and beyond, and his works continue to inspire architects and designers worldwide.

First retrospective international exhibition of Bawa’s works since 2004

The exhibition marks the 75th anniversary of Indo-Lanka diplomatic relations and is the first retrospective international exhibition of Bawa’s works since 2004. Earlier, his work had been exhibited at multiple venues in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, North America, Australia, Brazil, Singapore, and Germany.

Over 120 documents from the Bawa archives are on view, including unbuilt works and Bawa’s own photographs from his travels. The exhibition explores relationships between ideas, drawings, buildings, and places, and the different ways in which images were used in Bawa’s practice.

The exhibition will run until May 7, 2023, and has been organized under the Sri Lanka-India Cultural Exchange Program. It is expected to attract a large number of visitors, including diplomats, senior officials of the Government of India, academics, journalists, art lovers, and professionals.

Presence of notable dignitaries

The ceremonial opening of the exhibition was attended by a large number of invitees, including notable dignitaries such as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda, Director of the National Gallery of Modern Art Temsunaro Tripati, and Trustee of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust Sanjay Kulatunga. Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India, Meenakshi Lekhi, was also present on this occasion.

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