Ways of Knowing: New Exhibition Opening at the Geoffrey Bawa Space

How do we know what we know? This is the central question of the latest exhibition by the Geoffrey Bawa Trust. Opening at the Bawa Space gallery on Horton Place in early August, Ways of Knowing uses Geoffrey Bawa’s garden, Lunuganga, to explore different forms of knowledge and the ways we learn, store, and share information. 

Looking across seven installations—including virtual reality, film, textiles, oral traditions, maps, seeds, and the human body—the exhibition explores at how intelligence and understanding are gained through different mediums.  Designed as a multi-sensory experience, Ways of Knowing emphasises forms of perception in addition to sight, and reflects on the many ways we come to understand the world around us.

The exhibition features objects from the Geoffrey Bawa Collection, along with works by three guest artists: award-winning filmmaker, architect, and academic, Clara Kraft Isono; renowned artist, writer, and textile designer, Barbara Sansoni; and acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker and actor, Ruvin de Silva.

Ways of Knowing asks the visitor to consider the knowledge gathered or gained through the varied mediums of each installation.

Isono’s virtual reality installation, Garden as a Cloud,  uses a three-dimensional scan of Lunuganga to present an immersive walk-through of the garden, encouraging the viewer to question how we capture something that is constantly changing. The Geoffrey Bawa Trust is grateful to the British Council for their support in helping to exhibit Isono’s work.

“I am delighted to see the fruition of the creative collaboration between the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, Sri Lanka and Kraft Isono Films, UK, in producing an immersive virtual reality experience and exhibition of Geoffrey Bawa’s iconic garden ‘Lunuganga’ in Bentota, for a wider audience to appreciate and learn about the cultural and natural heritage of this site,” says Orlando Edwards, British Council Country Director for Sri Lanka.

Sansoni’s Araliya and Sky ‘reddha’ shows how the artist uses the geometric language of a loom to describe how she sees the landscape, encouraging the visitor to question how we view our own surroundings.  In his film about Lunuganga’s gardeners, de Silva examines the role of memory and the enduring relationship between humans and land.

“We have always been proud of our support for innovative arts and culture projects through our grants. This is a great example of a successful UK-Sri Lanka partnership demonstrating excellence in the arts. I hope the exhibition reaches many people, including students, in the coming months,” adds Edwards.

The Geoffrey Bawa Trust aims to make Ways of Knowing accessible to a broad and diverse audience. The Bawa Space offers step-free access to the exhibition space, as well as wheelchair accessible facilities. There is a designated quiet space upon request, an outdoor sensory area, and a room for craft and coloring. The exhibition will also feature an audio guide and tactile elements to enhance the sensory experience of the installations.  

Ways of Knowing will be on view at The Bawa Space from 2 August 2025–28 February 2026. Located on Horton Place in Colombo 07, the Bawa Space includes a gallery space and design store, as well as the archives, reference library, and staff offices.  Geoffrey Bawa left the entirety of his estate to The Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts upon his passing. The Trusts have sole responsibility for the architect’s Collection, and regularly host exhibitions and programming for design and architecture enthusiasts and students.

Ways of Knowing is supported by the British Council, as well as Kohler India, Initiating Partner for the Geoffrey Bawa Trust’s Exhibition Programme.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

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