On View
‘88 Acres: The Watapuluwa Housing Scheme by Minnette De Silva’
19 December 201916 August 2020

The Watapuluwa Housing Scheme in Kandy was completed in 1958, and heralded a new form of social housing in Sri Lanka. Designed by architect Minnette De Silva (1918–1998), the Scheme was notably created with the participation of its users.
‘88 Acres’ explores how this sprawling hillside development was ahead of its time in providing affordable accommodation for a diverse ethno-religious community of government public servants in Sri Lanka. Alongside a specially commissioned artists’ film by Irushi Tennekoon (b. 1989), Sumedha Kelegama (b. 1988), and Sumudu Athukorala (b. 1980), ‘88 Acres’ looks back at the Scheme 65 years later to consider De Silva’s influences and the challenges of her design approach.
Minnette De Silva
Irushi Tennekoon, Sumedha Kelegama, and Sumudu Athukorala
Dominic Sansoni
Ulrik Plesner
Anuradha Mathur
Additional artworks in alphabetical order, by and from:
Ananda Moonasingha
Architectural Association
Associated Enterprises Limited
Kandy Public Servants’ Building Society
Katherina Tatyana
Michael Blee
Modern Architectural Research Group
Municipal Council, Kandy
Patrick Geddes
Rajitha Konara
Royal Institute of British Architects
Sounak Atta
Survey Department of Sri Lanka
The Studio of Modern Architecture, Kandy
‘88 Acres’ is curated by Sharmini Pereira and Ritchell Marcelline, with curatorial assistants, Thinal Sajeewa and Nimaya Harris
Exhibition Design by Jonathan Edward with Exhibition Design and Production Intern Raeesah Samsudeen
Exhibition Identity by Nia Thandapani
Exhibition Production by Malshani Delgahapitiya
Editorial by Kaumadi Jayaweera
Translations by Kaumadi Alawathugoda, Miriam Naveendran, Raeesha Ikram, Ravihari Ravendrakumar, Saambavi Sivaji, and Shiyalni Janarthanan
Education and Public Programmes by Pramodha Weerasekera assisted by Mineli Karunaratne
We would like to thank all the artists, lenders, funders,
and our Founding Patrons for their generous support
in making this exhibition possible.
Additional thanks and gratitude to:
A. M. N. Koralegedara
Akesh Fernando
Amaury Blow
Ananda Amarasiri
Anoja Seneviratne
Arj Wignaraja
Bilesha Fernando
Chinthika Gunawardana
Crescat Management, Maintenance, and Security
Desmond Perera
Detmar Blow
Dinesha Pinnagoda
Dinuk Senanayake
Don Gamini Ranjith Jayasinghe
Dr. Chandika Basnayake
Errol Perera
Eyal Weizman
Helga DeSilva Blow Perera of Helga’s Folly*
Art*Museum*Heritage*Anti Hotel *Residence* Kandy
Heshma Wignaraja
John Darlington
Jyotsna Nambiar
Kalpa Munasinghe
Kamal Sanjeewa
Kavidasan Balakrishnan
Kishan San
Lalith Kumara Aludeniya
L. H. A. Tharuka
Linuka Mallikarachchi
Council Members of the Sri Lanka Institute
of Architecture
Mohamed Zarook
Nath S. Weerakoon
Neeta Suvarna
P. G. D. Dilrukshi
Priyantha Wickramaratna
Radev Basnayake
Rasika Silva
Robert Trafford
Rohana Bandara Herath
Ruwan Meegammana
Samaneh Moafi
Sandeep Gopal
Sandya Kulathunga
Selina Blow
Shathis Perera
Shivatmika S.R.
Shukla Sawant
Sonali Wijeyaratne
Susil Lamahewa
Thavisha Wickramatunga
Thushara Perera
Victoria De Silva
Yasangi Basnayake
‘88 Acres: The Watapuluwa Housing Scheme
by Minnette De Silva’ exhibition is generously supported by
British Council Sri Lanka
Officially endorsed by
World Monument Fund
Sri Lanka Institute of Architects
Additional support provided by
Art South Asia Project
Foto Design
Foundation for Arts Initiative
Advent Projects (Pvt) Ltd.
Major Benefactors and Funders of the Museum of Modern
and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka
John Keells Foundation
Nations Trust Bank
Fairfirst
Official Airline Partner
Sri Lankan Airlines
Radio Partners
Lite FM
Rhythm FM
Rock FM
Founding Patrons 2024
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka is
a non-profit organisation that receives annual financial
support from a group of Founding Patrons. We proudly
recognise and thank the following Founding Patrons for
working with us to build a museum of modern and contemporary
art in Sri Lanka.
Abbas and Alnaas Esufally
Ajit and Chandani Gunewardene
Amitha, Arshia, and Shasthi Silva
Angeline Ondaatjie
Anila and Romesh Bandaranaike
Christoph Feyen
Kumar and Ranmali Mirchandani
Leena Hidaramani
Niloufer Esufally Anverally
Roshni and Sheran Fernando
Samantha de Silva
Sharmila and Akram Cassim
Shivanthi Atukorale and Ravin Basnayake
Gallery 1
Home, Land, Survey, Country

3GPS Drawing: Jaffna to Delft, 9.30 am to 10.30 am, Boat, 10 Feb 2015 (2015)
Muhanned Cader (b. 1966)

4GPS Drawing: Jaffna Hostel (Kalviyankadu) to Ramanathan Academy (Maruthanarmadam), Three-wheeler, 12 km, 26 April 2012 (2012)
Muhanned Cader (b. 1966)

5GPS Drawings, England 2011, Oxford to Paddington, Train, 1.01 pm to 2 pm, 2011 (2011)
Muhanned Cader (b. 1966)

7GPS Drawing: Kudirimale to Wilpattu National Park Gate, 53km, 1.40 pm to 5.40 pm, Jeep, 7 October 2017 (2017)
Muhanned Cader (b. 1966)

8GPS Drawing: Fuengirola to Córdoba, 8.30 am to 11.18 am, Bus, 9 August 2017 (2017)
Muhanned Cader (b. 1966)

9GPS Drawing: Babaragasthalawa to Kumana campsite, 10 km, 1.15 hr, Jeep Toyota 4×4, June 2011 (2011)
Muhanned Cader (b. 1966)

16If You Boycott the Elections the Penalty Is Death, PRRA, Peoples Revolutionary Red Army, Galle (1989)
Stephen Champion (b. 1959)

17Corridors of Power: Drawing and Modelling Sri Lanka’s Tryst with Democracy (2015)
Channa Daswatte (b. 1965), Sanjana Hattotuwa (b. 1977), Asanga Welikala (b. 1976)

20Ceylon Since Soulbury Part I: A History in Cartoons by Collette (1948)
Aubrey Collette (1920–1992)
Gallery 2
Gaze, Self, Portrait
Gallery 3
Landscape / Landscapes, Territory
Gallery 4
Loss, Belief, Mourning
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Reading Group: ‘On Minnette De Silva and Architectural Method’ with Tariq Jazeel
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