Shayari De Silva

High on my list of must-visit places are two projects by Geoffrey Bawa (1919-2003): Lunuganga, the 25-acre estate he started shaping in the late 1940s; and Kandalama Hotel, completed nearly 50 years later. That they are both in Sri Lanka points to me most likely never seeing them in person, just as last year I didn't see Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential to be There, the first exhibition on Bawa to be shown in his home country. (It's on display until May 2023.) Although it was just published in March, the exhibition actually followed from the book, which beautifully depicts many of Bawa's drawings from his archive. Eight projects, including Kandalama, are highlighted in drawings and photographs, accompanied by seven essays and a statement by Bawa himself. The book is a must for fans of Bawa and a further enticement for them — and me — to find a way to Sri Lanka.… (mehr)