Badong Bernal retrospective slated

The different design projects of National Artist for Theater Design Salvador “Badong” Bernal (photo) will be featured in the retrospective exhibit Badong: Salvador Bernal Designs the Stage, on view at the School of Design and Arts (SDA) Campus Gallery of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) from Sept. 29 to Dec. 17.

The presentation highlights his creative output in ballet, opera, theater and film from the ’ 70s ’ til he passed on in 2011. Promoted are scale models, costumes and digital images of Bernal’s many obra maestras, notably those he created for dance legends Alice and Denisa Reyes for Ballet Philippines and the late theater icon Rolando Tinio for Tanghalang Pilipino, when Bernal was then resident designer of the Cultural Center of the Philippines ( CCP).

The show was originally mounted at the CCP and went on tour to Quezon City, Lingayen, Angeles City, Los Baños, Batangas City, Dumaguete City, Bacolod City, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City and Tagum City. The Benilde showcase is the 11th leg of the moving display.

Bernal led the creation of the CCP Production Center as a division under the then CCP Performing Arts Department, which he headed from 1981 to 1994. He also initiated the founding of the Kapisanan sa Pilipinas ng mga Production Designer (KAPPROD), and later became the Philippine Association of Theater Designer and Technician (PATDAT) president.

Considered to be the Father of Philippine Theater Design, Bernal enriched original Filipino works in theater, dance and music with his brilliant body of works that span over 300 productions. He once said, “A designer not only needs a sense of the past, but also the present and the future.”

The show is guest curated by close collaborators of the artist to include Dr. Nicanor Tiongson and Gino Gonzales.

Under the leadership of DLS-CSB Center for Campus Art head Gerry Torres, a gallery will be set up beside the exhibit to display the works of Benilde’s students in the AB Production Design class of Eric Pineda, who was an apprentice of Bernal. The participation of the pupils will trace an unbroken link to the future production designers of the country, and thus establishes Bernal’s lasting legacy.