New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday inaugurated a major exhibition based on the works of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, an event held to also celebrate the 75th anniversary of India-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations.
EAM Jaishankar, accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and Sri Lankan High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda, inaugurated the exhibition titled 'Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential to be There’, at the National Gallery of Modern Art.
In a tweet, the EAM said:
“Delighted to inaugurate the ‘Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential to be There’, at the National Gallery of Modern Art.
“Noted the rich legacy of his work, which are also present in Madurai, Goa, Puducherry and Chennai in India."
The Sri Lankan High Commission in a tweet said that it, along with the National Gallery of Modern Art, and the Geoffrey Bawa Trust Sri Lanka, are presenting the exhibition at the NGMA, Delhi, from March 17 – to May 7. It is the first major exhibition which draws from the works of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa.
Among his many buildings in Sri Lanka, including residences, schools, clubs, offices, and hotels, the most notable is the Parliament Building.
According to an official statement, the exhibition celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Indo-Lanka Diplomatic Relations, and the Cultural Exchange Programme between India and Sri Lanka.
"Exploring relationships between ideas, drawings, buildings and places, the exhibition explores the different ways in which images were used in Bawa’s practice. Over 120 documents from the Bawa archives will be on view, including a section on unbuilt work and Bawa’s own photographs from his travels. This exhibition was first presented in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from February–April 2022.
"Bawa’s work has been exhibited at multiple venues in Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, North America, Australia, India, Brazil, Singapore, and Germany but this is the first exhibition to focus on the archive, and the first retrospective exhibition of his work to be shown internationally since 2004.
"The Geoffrey Bawa Trust received financial support from Kohler India as initiating partner to produce this exhibition."
UNI RN