4 DATES

Monday, 14 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

Monday, 21 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

Wednesday, 23 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

Monday, 28 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Guided Tour: led by curatorial team

Members of the curatorial team of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust welcome visitors to a guided exhibition tour to reflect on the broader ideas addressed in the exhibition. Learn about the objects featured and their relevance to the themes present in It is Essential to be There. While covering the whole exhibition, visitors have a chance to hear different interpretations of the discussions prompted by the show, aligned with the each of the collections professionals in our team’s interests. Find out more on their favorite objects and why they like them!

Reflections: A guided tour with Channa Daswatte

Join Geoffrey Bawa Trust chairperson and one of Bawa's last architectural partner Channa Daswatte on a tour of the exhibition for a chance to hear first-hand accounts of what it was like to be a part of Bawa’s practice. Channa will share perspectives from his own experiences working on projects like Kandalama, the reconstruction of the Bentota Beach Hotel. Hearing these narratives will no doubt offer an opportunity to reflect on the collaborative nature of any spatial practice!

Wednesday, 2 February
6:30 p.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Curator’s tour: led by exhibition curator Shayari de Silva

Join exhibition and Geoffrey Bawa Trust curator Shayari de Silva, on a walkthrough of the exhibition that reveals specialist insights on the multiple threads connecting the objects selected for the show. Visitors will gain in-depth understanding on gallery themes through the projects exhibited, but also taking into consideration the broader composition of the Geoffrey Bawa archives.

Thursday, 3 February
6:30 p.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Curator’s tour: led by exhibition curator Shayari de Silva

Join exhibition and Geoffrey Bawa Trust curator Shayari de Silva, on a walkthrough of the exhibition that reveals specialist insights on the multiple threads connecting the objects selected for the show. Visitors will gain in-depth understanding on gallery themes through the projects exhibited, but also taking into consideration the broader composition of the Geoffrey Bawa archives.

Friday, 4 February
6:30 p.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

A Closer Look: ‘Is it Essential to be There?’ with exhibition designers Thilini Perera and Christoper Silva

Ever wondered about how design principles are applied to the making of exhibitions? In this tour with exhibition designers Thilini Perera and Christopher Silva, the Geoffrey Bawa Trust offers designers and enthusiasts an opportunity to hear about the behind-the-scenes creative decisions that have built up the exhibition’s virtual and physical spaces. In a discussion that covers the thinking behind the exhibition’s physical layout and construction process, visual identity and exhibition graphics, this audience can learn about the challenges and solutions to creating our galleries.

Saturday, 5 February
11 a.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Itty Bitty Workshop: creative workshops for children
(ages 7 and above)

Have any E-T B-T creatives at home? Let their expression run free in these Geoffrey Bawa-inspired workshops for children….

Sunday, 6 February
11 a.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Guided tour: led by curatorial team

Members of the curatorial team of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust welcome visitors to a guided exhibition tour to reflect on the broader ideas addressed in the exhibition. Learn about the objects featured and their relevance to the themes of the It is Essential to be There. While covering the whole exhibition, visitors have a chance to hear different interpretations of the discussions prompted by the show, aligned with the each of the collections professionals in our team’s interests. Find out more on their favorite objects and why they like them!

Monday, 7 February
6:30 p.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Guided tour: led by curatorial team

Members of the curatorial team of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust welcome visitors to a guided exhibition tour to reflect on the broader ideas addressed in the exhibition. Learn about the objects featured and their relevance to the themes of the It is Essential to be There. While covering the whole exhibition, visitors have a chance to hear different interpretations of the discussions prompted by the show, aligned with the each of the collections professionals in our team’s interests. Find out more on their favorite objects and why they like them!

Tuesday, 8 February
6:30 p.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Reflections: A guided tour with Channa Daswatte

Join Geoffrey Bawa Trust chairperson and one of Bawa's last architectural partner Channa Daswatte on a tour of the exhibition for a chance to hear first-hand accounts of what it was like to be a part of Bawa’s practice. Channa will share perspectives from his own experiences working on projects like Kandalama, the reconstruction of the Bentota Beach Hotel. Hearing these narratives will no doubt offer an opportunity to reflect on the collaborative nature of any spatial practice!

Wednesday, 9 February
6:30 p.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Gallery Talk: Searching for a Way of Building

Thursday, 10 February
6:30 p.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Curator’s tour: led by exhibition curator Shayari de Silva

Join exhibition and Geoffrey Bawa Trust curator Shayari de Silva, on a walkthrough of the exhibition that reveals specialist insights on the multiple threads connecting the objects selected for the show. Visitors will gain in-depth understanding on gallery themes through the projects exhibited, but also taking into consideration the broader composition of the Geoffrey Bawa archives.

Friday, 11 February
6:30 p.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

A Closer Look: The Kandalama Tank Tapestry with designer Marie Gnanaraj

This exciting talk with Marie Gnanaraj, textile designer at Barefoot, foscuses on a single object in the show, as she discusses her own design work on the Kandalama Tank Tapestry. Guests have the unique opportunity of hearing about the creative process behind one of the exhibition objects while exploring the qualities of the object itself. First designed in 1995 as part of the Kandalama Hotel project, the Tapestry has been re-comissioned for the exhibition, where it stands testimony to the intertwining of art and architecture in Geoffrey Bawa’s work.

Saturday, 12 February
11 a.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Itty Bitty Workshop: creative workshops for children
(ages 7 and above)

Have any E-T B-T creatives at home? Let their expression run free in these Geoffrey Bawa-inspired workshops for children….

Sunday, 13 February
11 a.m. SLST
The Stables, Park Street Mews, Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

2 DATES

Tuesday, 15 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

Friday, 25 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Curator’s tour: led by exhibition curator Shayari de Silva

Join exhibition and Geoffrey Bawa Trust curator Shayari de Silva, on a walkthrough of the exhibition that reveals specialist insights on the multiple threads connecting the objects selected for the show. Visitors will gain in-depth understanding on gallery themes through the projects exhibited, but also taking into consideration the broader composition of the Geoffrey Bawa archives.

Wednesday, 16 February
6:00 p.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Reflections: A guided tour with architect Anura Ratnavibhushana

Join architect Anura Ratnavibhushana on a tour of the exhibition for a chance to hear first-hand accounts of what it was like to be a part of Bawa’s practice. Anura will share perspectives from his own experiences working on projects like the Osaka Pavilion, Yahapath Endara Farm School, and Bentota Beach Hotel. Hearing these narratives will no doubt offer an opportunity to reflect on the collaborative nature of any spatial practice!

3 DATES

Thursday, 17 February
6:00 p.m. SLST

Tuesday, 22 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

Thursday, 24 February
6:00 p.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Guided tour: Tamil

Architects welcome visitors to a guided exhibition tour to reflect on the broader ideas addressed in the exhibition. Learn about the objects featured and their relevance to the themes of It is Essential to be There. While covering the whole exhibition, visitors have a chance to hear different interpretations of the discussions prompted by the show. Conducted in Tamil.

3 DATES

Thursday, 17 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

Tuesday, 22 February
6:00 p.m. SLST

Thursday, 24 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Guided tour: Sinhala

Architects welcome visitors to a guided exhibition tour to reflect on the broader ideas addressed in the exhibition. Learn about the objects featured and their relevance to the themes of It is Essential to be There. While covering the whole exhibition, visitors have a chance to hear different interpretations of the discussions prompted by the show. Conducted in Sinhala.

Friday, 18 February
6:30 p.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Gallery Talk: Defining New Directions

Our Gallery talks are intended to provide an in-depth look at the particular themes of just one of the galleries within the exhibition. Focusing on three projects: the Ceylon Pavilion for the Expo '70 in Osaka, the Ruhunu University and the Kandalama Hotel, this talk will look at the interplay between architecture and issues around identity, the environment, education and power.

Saturday, 19 February
11:00 a.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

A Closer Look: Archives and Conservation
with Udaya Hewawasam

The Geoffrey Bawa Trust welcomes Conservator and exhibition consultant Udaya Hewawasam to a discussion about the challenges of conserving and recuperating archival materials, especially in the context of the Sri Lankan climate. Particular attention will be given to the strategies used in It is Essential to be There, which allowed over 30 original paper documents to be presented to the public.

2 DATES

Sunday, 20 February
11:00 a.m. SLST

Sunday, 27 February
11:00 a.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Itty Bitty Workshop: creative workshops for children (ages 7 and above)

Have any E-T B-T creatives at home? Let their expression run free in these Geoffrey Bawa-inspired workshops for children….

Saturday, 26 February
11:15 a.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

A Closer Look: Drawing Architecture by
Hand with Christopher Silva

Join exhibition designer and production lead Christopher Silva for a conversation on the specifics of distinct techniques in architectural drawing. Considering the process of crafting some of the drawings currently in the exhibition, guests will better comprehend representation choices and their consequences in architectural production. The conversation will be followed by a drawing workshop to test out some of these discussion topics!

Saturday, 26 February
12:30 p.m. SLST

The Stables, Park Street Mews,
Colombo 02

Limited capacity for all events, register via our Eventbrite page

Drawing Architecture: Workshop with
Christopher Silva

Join exhibition designer and production lead Christopher Silva after a conversation on the specifics of distinct techniques in architectural drawing for a drawing workshop to test out some of these discussion topics!