All Work and No Play: Sanjeeve Gunaratnam

Launch event: 16 April 5:30-7:30pm

This exhibition presents the work of Sanjeeve Gunaratnam, a multidisciplinary designer and creative whose practice constructs an imagined world in which play resurfaces within the structures of adult life. Working across figurine sculpting, furniture design and multimedia installation, At the centre of the exhibition is the life of a “Square-vilian,” whose environment has transformed into a surreal “play-fessional” landscape shaped by the long term suppression of play. 

Process documentation forms an integral part of the exhibition. Sketches, prototypes and material tests reveal an honest account of experimentation, setbacks and discovery. This body of work reflects a deliberate step beyond conventional architectural training into a new design language that merges spatial thinking with character, object and story.

Over the last nine months, Sanjeeve has undertaken a residency within the Department of Architecture and the Built Environment that has allowed this speculative world to develop in depth. The residency provided space to test processes, refine sculptural techniques and extend his work beyond architectural conventions observed within his BA (Hons) Architecture. It has been a period of sustained experimentation, where early sketches evolved into fully realised artefacts and environments. This time has been critical in consolidating a distinctive design language that sits between architecture, object and narrative.

The Department of Architecture and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University is proud to host this exhibition, reflecting a commitment to fostering critical and creative explorations of identity and society. Sanjeeve’s work challenges and inspires through a confident blend of technical precision and cultural commentary.

 Sanjeeve studied Architecture at Birmingham City University, graduating in 2025 with First Class Honours. He is also a contributor to Studio.zine, working across illustration and post-production.

The exhibition will showcase sculptural works, speculative furniture pieces and multimedia installations.