50 designers reinterpret Arturo Luz’s iconic 1982 chair

From a pearl-beaded denim chair by Ken Samudio to Aranaz’s signature floral embroidery, the reinterpreted chairs show how Luz paved the way for universal and timeless design as the Design Center’s inaugural executive director who spearheaded the center’s incubator and mentorship program, said the exhibition’s curator, Marian Pastor Roces.

The 50 chairs, said the Design Center, are a collection of the designers’ cumulative efforts to transition to sustainable design through zero-waste systems and community empowerment projects.

The designs, said the center, “display the sheer joy of designing within the Philippine context” and show designers’ role in seeking “to alleviate poverty and transform the social landscape.”

The 50 chairs, together with Luz’s original chair, are on-display in National Museum of Fine Arts adjacent to the “Art x Design: A Special Reception of the 50 Years of Philippine Design and Beyond” exhibition until April.

According to the center, after the exhibit, they are still trying to determine whether to put up the chairs for auction since ownership for the chair’s design belongs to Luz and his heirs.

Luz died on May 26, 2021. He was 94 years old.

A painter, sculptor and designer for more than 40 years, Luz was conferred the National Artist Award, the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the Philippine arts, in 1997.

According to his Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) citation, Luz “created masterpieces that exemplify an ideal of sublime austerity in expression and form. From the Carnival series of the late 1950s to the recent Cyclist paintings, Luz produced works that elevated Filipino aesthetic vision to new heights of sophisticated simplicity.

By establishing the Luz Gallery that professionalized the art gallery as an institution and set a prestigious influence over generations of Filipino artists, Luz inspired and developed a Filipino artistic community that nurtures impeccable designs.”

Before his death, Luz served as a founding director of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from 1976 to 1986.

The CCP has been home to two of his best masterpieces. His mural painting “Black and White” can be seen in the lobby of the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater); while his “Paper Clip” sculpture is located at the South Lawn. A smaller version of the sculpture is on display at the Design Center’s “Art x Design: A Special Reception of the 50 Years of Philippine Design and Beyond” exhibit.

— Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo