The late architect Geoffrey Bawa established a trust in 1982 with a mandate to ensure the advancement of art, architecture, ecology and environmental sciences. More than four decades on, this work continues with an expanding team dedicated to Bawa’s vision.
The Geoffrey Bawa Trust first established a curatorial team in 2018 to design a programme honouring Geoffrey Bawa’s 100th birthday. In a year-long celebration, Bawa 100 showcased talks, tours, exhibitions, and publications. Seven years on, the Geoffrey Bawa Trust now stretches across several departments, including Collections and Archives, Design and Communications, Conservation and Production, Programmes, and Ecology.
The Collections and Archives department is responsible for the Trust’s extensive collection of art, furniture, and books, as well as archival materials from Geoffrey Bawa’s architectural practice, such as drawings, photographs, and correspondence. The team working on safeguarding this legacy focuses on architecture, archival development, and preservation and includes two assistants who are critical to the everyday maintenance of the Collections and Archives.
Faazath Uvais, Archive Assistant, and Micheal George, Curatorial Assistant, both started as interns with the Trust. With further training and expertise, they are now key members of the core curatorial team. Faazath and Michael are currently working together on curating a mini exhibition on furniture and history, which will be on display in the reading room at the Bawa Space on Horton Place.
We sat down with Faazath and Micheal to learn a little more about their background and experiences at the Trust.
Q1: What does your role involve?
Faazath: The Archive Assistant role involves maintaining, cataloguing, and preserving a wide range of documents, photographs, architectural plans, and other materials related to the life and works of Geoffrey Bawa. I assist in organising these materials so they are easily accessible to researchers and visitors, including digitisation and archiving, to ensure they are preserved and protected.
Micheal: As the Curatorial Assistant, I support the team with tasks such as exhibition planning and research. I also assist with display layouts and inventory documentation for the library and archive.
Q2: What prompted you to join the Geoffrey Bawa Trust?
Faazath: During my college days, I found it challenging to access detailed historical information, especially about Sri Lanka’s architectural heritage. This experience helped me appreciate the importance of knowledge. Joining the Geoffrey Bawa Trust is an opportunity to be part of the team preserving incredible architectural work that will inspire people for years to come. Being immersed in this history and conservation is really exciting.
Micheal: My background is in interior architecture, and I worked at an architecture firm prior to joining the Geoffrey Bawa Trust. Looking to expand my knowledge in architectural history and communication, I joined the Trust’s internship program before becoming an Assistant. I love that the role allows me to pursue creative activities while developing a strong curatorial skillset.
Q3: What have you learned through your work at the Geoffrey Bawa Trust?
Faazath: Working in the archive reminds me of how little things can help us make connections and build a larger picture. Even the smaller pieces, which were perhaps just one part of a larger project when they were made, are now an important part of our history.
Each project brings something new to learn or a problem to solve. When the Trust hosted Drawing from the Archives at The Yale Architecture Gallery in 2024, we needed to safely transport all these incredibly delicate drawings and photographs from Sri Lanka to the United States. As the Archives Assistant, I was part of the team that custom-designed and built the packaging to safely keep these archival pieces. I now have a deeper understanding of the time and work it takes to move museum pieces around the world.
Micheal: Being the Curatorial Assistant reminds me to slow down and pay attention to even the tiniest detail. When the Trust offices moved to Horton Place, I conducted a comprehensive inventory audit, ensuring accurate tracking and organisation of all items. The process was time-consuming, but patience is a critical skill when handling fragile items with care.
Working at the Trust is an opportunity to be involved in the behind-the-scenes process of organising and executing an exhibition. For the Botany and Batik exhibition at Lunuganga in 2024, I designed a hanging perspex system to display tracings of the batik designs from the Bentota Beach Hotel.
As one of the oldest non-profits in Sri Lanka’s cultural sector, the Geoffrey Bawa Trust is dedicated to offering rare, first-hand experience, training, and mentoring for burgeoning museum professionals, bridging various disciplines and providing a foundation for a life-long career in the arts.
Working with the Trust provides insight into how a local cultural organisation that values interdisciplinary approaches and thoughtful direction operates within Sri Lanka’s broader cultural landscape. The Geoffrey Bawa Trust continues to develop its departments and seeks enthusiastic, self-driven applicants to engage in meaningful, hands-on work within a dynamic setting. Find more information at geoffreybawa.com/opportunties.
