Shiromi Pinto uncovering Minette De Silva

This episode focuses on the dynamic and under-appreciated life of Minette De Silva, a pioneering female mid 20th century Sri Lankan architect, and contemporary of Corbusier. Guests Selva Sandrapragas and Shiromi Pinto discuss their personal connections to De Silva and the extensive research that led to Shiromi's novel, 'Plastic Emotions,' which explores De Silva's complex life and contributions. The novel caused controversy when published.

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Shiromi Pinto is author of Plastic Emotions, a novel which unearths the forgotten story of 20th century architecture icon, Minnette de Silva. Shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award in 2020, it is published by Influx Press in the UK and Penguin in India. Shiromi has written short fiction for BBC Radio 4, the Victoria & Albert Museum and opendemocracy.net. Her first novel, Trussed, was reviewed as ‘audacious’ (Bernardine Evaristo in The Independent), ‘brilliant’ (Diva) and ‘so cool that it hurts’ (The Times). After over a decade working for Amnesty International’s International Secretariat, she is now a communications consultant for social justice causes at writingeditingwords.com.

Selva Sandrapragas is a RIBA ARB architect. After finishing his post graduate studies at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London he completed his professional practice qualifications ( RIBA Part 3 ) at the Architectural Association school architecture. As an undergraduate he worked with Minnette de Silva on the “12 Villages Exhibition” exhibition shown at the Commonwealth Institute 1987/88. He was awarded the INTACH ( Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage ) & ICOMOS Scholarship in 1992 to study the wooden Taravad architecture of Kerela. In 1997 he was awarded the ADB/Japan Scholarship to study urban design at the Hong Kong University.