The Association of Lighting and Video Scene Authors pays posthumous tribute to the lighting designer and pioneer of this profession in Spain, by naming Emilio Bugallo as Honorary Member.
In the seventies Emilio began his journey in the world of performing arts as part of the University Theater Ballet Company directed by Elvira Sanz. In addition to being a dancer and actor, he also assumed the role of lighting designer.
In 1978, given the absolute lack of training opportunities in lighting in Spain, he decided to study in the United States. It was there that, two years later, he earned a master’s degree in lighting design from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Returning to Spain, Emilio met Teresa Valentín, promoter of the Entertainment Technology Center (CTE). In 1988, Emilio joined the CTE as a lighting teacher, playing a fundamental role in the first years of training in this discipline, work that he combined with his designs and collaborations in the Theater Company directed by Jarek Bielski.
Emilio Bugallo was also an author in the field of lighting, having written a book on this discipline that, until now, remains unpublished. Both the manuscript of his book and a curious letter addressed to an American colleague who spoke about the situation of lighting in Spain at that time came, by fate, into the hands of the Association of Illumination Authors, thanks to his friend and depository Jarek Bielski.
Below you can find the link to the aforementioned letter as well as texts written for the occasion by Teresa Valentín, Jarek Bielski and Juan Gómez-Cornejo.