Since 1975, Mexico has not participated in the National Section of tho Prague Quadrennial. This year, six sot and lighting do-signers will present a selection of their work made in the last five years, trying to fill tho spaco that has boon loft empty in tho previous exhibitions. These theatrical scenic designers have begun to generate an important movomont of tho sot doslgn in Mexico, headed by Alejandro Luna who has left a deep imprint on tho Mexican theater throughout 40 yoars of his caroor. Tho characteristic of this movement is that set design has begun to take a significant placo in Mexican productions. As each sot designer works separately, it will be interesting to see this selection of works reunited in the samo spaco of prosontation. This will enable us to compare the influences and differences, the points of contact and tho different approaches of oach dosignor. Being invited to conceive the exhibition like a scenic object, we decided to create this spaco like a sot doslgn, whoro tho user will be able to have an interactive relationship with whatever appears in front of him. Thoro will bo pulloys, cords and buttons to play with in a labyrinth of corridors, windows, screens and doors. Tho visitor will bo able to opon curtains or to mako sot move-ments, playing, for a moment, inside this theater. A black box of possibilities for this Labyrinth of spacos...
- Jorge Ballina
* 1968, Mexico City
Specialization: theatre director, set designer, lighting designer, scenographer
Education: Bachelor‘s degree in Architecture, Universidad Ibero-Americana (1987-1990); course in Set Design for opera and musical theatre, St. Martins College of Art and Design (1991); course in theatre set design and lighting with Alejandro Luna (1994)
Collaboration with theatres: Palacio de Bellas Artes; Teatros del Centro Cultural del Bosque; Teatro UNAM; Teatro Centro Cultural Helénico; Centro Cultural Telmex; Teatro de los Insurgentes. He works with the main theatre, dance and opera companies of Mexico, including the National Companies of Theatre and Opera.
Teaching activities: Teacher of set design. Universidad Iberoamericana (1991-2002), various set design courses and workshops (2004-2015)
Participation in other important exhibitions: World Stage Design 2005, Toronto
Continuing collaboration with directors: Mauricio García Lozano, Francisco Franco, Martín Acosta, Enrique Singer, José Caballero, Carlos Corona,Sergio Vela, Alicia Sánchez, Boris Schoemann.
Awards: Gold Medal in Set Design (World Stage Design Toronto 2005)
Additional information: He is an opera, dance and theatre set designer. The main feature of his visual concept is the creation of spaces in constant transformation according to dramatic action. Member of the National System of Creators of Art. www.jorgeballina.com
- Alejandro Luna
* 1939
Specialization: architect, set designer, lighting designer
Education: Architect
Teaching activities: 1968 - 2007
Participation in other important exhibitions: Novisad
Additional information: He is one of the most versatile and acclaimed scenic and lighting designers in Mexico. His 40 years of pro-fessional experience cover a wide range of freelance work in architecture and theater design. As an architect he has designed several theatres, and designed tho sets and lights of mora than two hundred plays and twenty operas throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America. He has also designod seven feature films, as well as TV series and danco. Ho was a director of The-ater Design at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and later Head of tho Thoatro Department of tho National Institute of Fine Arts. Luna has boon awarded several national and international prizes.
He ehibited at PQ in 1975.
PQ 03 - Member of the International Jury.
Distinguished Artist Award 2004,
National Award in Arts 2001. Doctor Honoris Causa by the UABC.
Exhibiting works
-
Carlos Fuentes: (Ceremonies of the Dawn),
Dramatičoskij teatr Omsk
1998, Director: Vladimir Petrov,
- Zeki Sarayoğlu (Zeki Sarayoglu)
Specialization: set designer, scenographer
Education: Mimar Sinan Fine Art Universty Stage and Costume Design Department
Collaboration with theatres: Resident set designer for Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, Resident Set Designer for Turkish State Theatre (1999-2002)
Participation in other important exhibitions: WSD: 2005, 2009
Continuing collaboration with directors: Ilham Yazar, Doğan Çelik, Tomris Çetinel
Additional information: Freelance set designer for Theatre and Television, and art director for TV commercials.
Member of Scenography Commission of OISTAT.
Exhibiting works
-
Ximena Escalante: (Fedra and other Greek Women),
(National Company),
2002, Director: José Caballero,
-
Michael Frayn: (Kopenhagen),
(National Company),
2001, Director: Mario Espinoza,
- Gabriel Pascal
* 1951
Specialization: set designer
Additional information: He studied set and light design at the University Theatre Center in Mexico City, and he was Alejandro Luna's assist-ant. The lighting always influences his conception about set design and the scenic space in theatre.
- Arturo Nava
* 1944, Chilapa, Guerrero
Specialization: architect, teacher, set designer, lighting designer
Additional information: He teaches scenography, technical drawing and set and lighting design at the National Theatre School. His works are influenced by his architectural career. In his designs he always searches a synthesis of the spaco through architectonic forms.
Exhibiting works
-
Emilio Carballldo: (The Prisoner),
Foro Sor Juana do la Cruz
2002, Director: Mercedes de la Cruz,
- Philippe Amand
* 1965, La Habana, Cuba
Specialization: architect, set designer, lighting designer
Education: Set and Lighting Design in Drama at the Núcleo de Estudios Teatrales, Mexico City
Collaboration with theatres: National Company of Theatre of México, Teatro UNAM and Theatres of the National Institute of Fine Arts of México. INBA
Teaching activities: Scenography: San Carlos Academy of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
Participation in other important exhibitions: World Stage Design, Toronto 2005
Continuing collaboration with directors: Luis de Tavira, Martín Acosta, Mario Espinosa, Corrado Rovaris,Robert Driver, Enrique Singer.
Awards: Gold Medal for Best Lighting Designer, World Stage Design Toronto 2005
Additional information: Amand studied stage and lighting design under Alejandro Luna, and directing under Ludwik Margules and Julio Castillo in the Nucleo de estudios teatrales school in Mexico City. He created the main set and lighting designs for the National Theatre. In 2000 the National Council of Culture granted him the distinction of National Creator of Art.
He is a Member of the National System of Creators of Art.
Website: homepage.mac.com/pamand/
Exhibiting works
-
Botho Strauss: (Seven Doors),
(National Company),
2000, Director: Luis de Tavira,
- Mónica Raya (Monica Raya)
* 1965, Mexico City
Specialization: architect, director, producer, theatre theoretician, teacher, set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, scenographer, curator, jury
Education: PhD in Arts
Collaboration with theatres: J. F. K. Center of Arts, Gala Hispanic Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, International Cervantino Festival. She has been the artistic director of Theatre at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (2004-2010).
Teaching activities: Full-time professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Participation in other important exhibitions: Costume at the End of the Century, Moscow 2015
Continuing collaboration with directors: Johan Kresnik, Ludwik Margules, Sergio Vela, Miguel Angel Gaspar, Antonio Castro
Awards: Gold Medal in Costume Design, World Stage Design, Toronto 2005. Outstanding Scenographer Gold Medal World Stage Design, Seoul 2009.
Additional information: She has designed more than 120 productions. She won the Gold Medal for Costume Design at the WSD 2005 and for Outstanding Scenographer at the WSD 2009. www.monicaraya.com
