Instituto Cervantes pays tribute to Gonzalo Torrente Ballester with lecture and exhibit

Explore the journey of one of the major literary figures of 20th century Spain as Instituto Cervantes de Manila features an exhibit on Gonzalo Torrente Ballester (1910- 1999). It opens February 2, Thursday, 7 pm, at the Spanish cultural center’s exhibit hall area.

 

Titled “Los Mundos de Gonzalo Torrente (The Worlds of Gonzalo Torrente),” this exhibition presents a snapshot of the renowned Spanish writer and highlights a selection of photographs documenting his life and his unique way of using photography as a work tool for his creative process.

The exhibit opening on Thursday also includes a round table discussion entitled “The World in a Novel” featuring Spanish scholar Carmen Becerra, Torrente Ballester’s son Alvaro and Filipino writer and publisher Ramon Sunico. It starts 4 pm at Instituto Cervantes’ Salon de Actos.

 

Well known as a novelist, Torrente Ballester was born in Galicia, Spain and received his first education there, subsequently attending the universities of Santiago de Compostela and Oviedo.

 

Following several problems with Spanish government censors under Franco and disappointment by the indifferent reception of his novel Don Juan (1963), he decided to leave his country and accepted a post at the University at Albany  in 1966 and remained there until 1973 as the University's first distinguished professor.

 

Two years later, the Galician novelist was elected member of the Spanish Royal Academy. In 1985, Torrente Ballester was the first Spanish novelist to receive the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the highest Spanish literary prize. 

 

The exhibition at Instituto Cervantes looks at the life of the writer through a sampling that brings together a selection of photographs from his life and the places he called home, his personal belongings, as well as various documents and editions of his books.

 

The lecture, on the other hand, will provide insights and perspective on the late Spanish writer – one of the most prominent figures of the Hispanic culture. Experts Becerra and Alvaro’s approach will involve highlighting the contents of Torrente Ballester’s novels and works as well as relating these to the historical and cultural background in which he lived.

 

The forum will also be an opportunity for the audience to exchange their ideas with Sunico and the two Spanish writers, about the changing trends in literature, fictional writing, their personal works and so much more.

 

Los Mundos de Gonzalo Torrente is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, Fundación Gonzalo Torrente Ballester, Acción Cultural Española, and Spanish Agency International Cooperation for Development (AECID).

 

Admission to this event is free. For more information, please call 5261482 or visit http://manila.cervantes.es Instituto Cervantes de Manila is at 855 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila.  Press release from Instituto Cervantes