- De La Salle College of Saint Benilde has launched Benilde Open Design and Art 2024, celebrating its 35th year by awarding grants to ten innovative projects from creative practitioners.
- These projects will be exhibited publicly from May 23 to June 30, 2024, across multiple venues including the college’s Design + Arts Campus and MCAD Manila.
- This initiative, in collaboration with De La Salle University and the Embassy of Switzerland, aims to nurture creativity and bring visionary ideas to life.
De La Salle College of Saint Benilde has unveiled the Benilde Open Design and Art 2024, an initiative aimed at nurturing creative talents and bringing innovative ideas to fruition. Celebrating its 35th year, the college invites artists, architects, technologists, engineers, and various other creative practitioners to submit proposals for projects that have yet to be realised.
The initiative received an impressive 324 proposals from creative industry practitioners and Benilde students. These selected projects will be showcased in public exhibitions starting on May 23, 2024, and running until June 30, 2024, across multiple venues, including the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde – Design + Arts Campus, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) Manila, and the Hub for Innovation. This pioneering event is held in collaboration with De La Salle University and the Embassy of Switzerland.
Ten proposals were selected for the Benilde Open category
Ten proposals were selected for the Benilde Open category, each receiving a grant of P300,000 to bring their projects to life. Additionally, one special mention received full funding from a private donor.
Tropikalye by Nice Buenaventura and Costantino Zicarelli is an online index highlighting contemporary Philippine aesthetics from the street perspective. It focuses on trends such as the “colour-cooling” use of mint green in architecture.
Nightingales by RJ Fernandez is an observational documentary exploring the lives of Filipino nurses in the UK’s National Health Service. The project documents their daily lives and horticultural activities, fostering cultural engagement through food-related creative activities.
Stakeholding: Chapter 1, A Developing Tabletop Game by Lyra Garcellano is a game exploring contemporary art and culture, prompting philosophical discussions on designing new art worlds and navigating cultural intersections.
RE-MOVE: Unraveling Truths Behind the Spectacle of Indigenous Exposition Through the Contemporary Performance Lens by Aaron Kaiser Garcia retraces Filipino history through performance, highlighting resistance and triumph against colonial oppression.
Exploring the Use of Philippine Silk in Tausug Pisyabit Weaving by Rambie Lim aims to revive traditional Tausug textiles by collaborating with local weavers and bridging gaps between suppliers, dyers, and weavers.
Unraveling Baguio’s Inner Tapestry: A Psychogeographical Exploration Through Sensory Encounters by Gabe Mercado engages participants in deconstructing dominant tourist narratives through unscripted walks and creative interventions.
Maria, Maria by Lala Monserrat, in collaboration with Russ Ligtas, Geric Cruz, and Jazel Kristin, fosters collaborative work between artists and the LGBTQ community in Zambales through performance, photography, film, and sculpture.
Cosmic Garden by Issay Rodriguez merges art and technology to inspire curiosity and explore innovative solutions in agriculture, asking how art and Agriculture 4.0 technologies can drive positive outcomes.
Developing Puppetry in the Philippines by Mikayla Teodoro introduces advanced puppetry mechanisms, aiming to establish the Philippines as a puppetry hub in Southeast Asia by training local puppet makers.
CURIOUS: Spotlight on Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Literature by Michael Vea integrates FSL Literature into Philippine literary arts through workshops and exhibitions, enriching the experience of the Filipino Deaf community.
Special mention
Baluy Manghagdaway: A Functional Installation Art Created in Collaboration with the Umayamnon Community by Errol P. Balcos is a project advocating for the rights of corn gleaners. The installation art is functional and livable, located in corn farms and potentially replicable in other Bukidnon communities.
This landmark initiative by De La Salle College of Saint Benilde underscores the institution’s commitment to fostering creativity and innovation, providing a platform for diverse creative practitioners to showcase their visionary projects.
About De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) is a distinguished institution of higher education in the Philippines, known for its innovative and inclusive approach to learning. Established in 1988 as a member of the De La Salle Philippines network, the college offers a diverse range of programs across the arts, design, management, hospitality, and technology. DLS-CSB is committed to providing a transformative educational experience that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and social responsibility. With state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant campus life, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde empowers students to excel in their chosen fields and contribute meaningfully to society.
