The cultural affairs section promotes cultural exchange between Switzerland and Hong Kong/Macau. It helps connect Swiss artists in a variety of fields such as music, dance, drama or photography with useful contacts in this part of the world.
Regularly the cultural affairs section organizes or co-hosts various events and exhibitions with a Swiss interest and works closely with organisations such as the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.
Studio Residencies
A studio residency (3 months) in China or, conversely, in Switzerland gives artists the chance to gain a broad insight into a different cultural environment. The aim of the residency is to find inspiration, establish networks and contemplate new projects and cooperations. In addition to a place to work and accommodation, Pro Helvetia will provide specific coaching. The Swiss Arts Council covers the cost of travel, insurances and per diem expenses. Applicants may benefit three times in total from a Pro Helvetia studio residency.
Selection criteria
convincing track record: personal artistic activity above and beyond regional level
Pulgasari (불가사리)(1985) is a cult classicLoosely based on the Korean mythic creature – Bulgasari, this movie is, perhaps not without irony, about a giant pro-peasantry metal-eating monster that stood by the side of the peasant army to overthrow the corrupt monarchy of the feudal Goryeo Dynasty in Korea.
Location: Connecting Space Hong Kong, G/F, 18 Fort Street, North Point, Hong Kong
Saturday, 07.05.2016
– Friday, 15.04.2016
Movie; Cultural event; Concert
After so many contacts and discussions, from 7 to 15 May, Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festvial (LUFF) will be in Hong Kong for 9 days, showcasing a series of music and film programs together with Kill the Silence Festival. This is part of an intensive exchange of these two Festivals between May and October 2016 in Hong Kong and Lausanne.
A big success in Hong Kong! This exhibition is now moving to be shown in Macao SAR for two months. Regarded as the “enfant terrible” of modern Swiss typography, Wolfgang Weingart has revolutionised established typography rules since the mid-1960s, shaping generations of designers as a typography teacher. This exhibition at d-mart presents the groundbreaking work, creative process and teachings of Weingart and the work of his students.
Location: Tap Seac Gallery, Avenida Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, N°95, Macau
How can art be understood as a tool for understanding foreign cultures? Why do cultural values play an important role in threshold countries undergoing modernisation? What can art contribute to a country’s public image? Based on a case study about global culture, the «Chinese Contemporary Art Award» online course develops possible answers to these crucial questions.
Monday, 26.10.2015
– Monday, 02.11.2015,
Settimana 2015
Movie
SynopsisFifty-year-old, Sardinian-born Silvio – a lover of jazz music and karaoke shows – manages the “Stella d’Oro” boarding house. Built on the Swiss side of Lake Maggiore more than a hundred years ago, the place has been accommodating less and less tourists, and a few asylum seekers. But its days are numbered: it is threatened by a property restoration project for a new private housing estate. Its few remaining days depict the passing of life in a place of encounter for the stories and dreams of people coming from different locations and cultures. STELLA CIAO is the portrait of the last year and a half in the existence of a peculiar place, a unique slice of life as it was seized right before its destruction.
Location: Beijing; Guangzhou; Hong Kong; Shanghai; Hangzhou
Music has always been a part of Bastian Baker life,even as a young boy when music wasn’t at the centre of his preoccupations, he lent his voice to a school choir. Today, at only 24, he already sings on Switzerland and Europe’s biggest stages with the self-confidence of experienced performers. Over two years, he performed hundreds of times. Among the list, very prestigious venues: Montreux Jazz Festival, Paleo Festival and Francofolies de la Rochelle. This is his first tour in China.
Inspired by Romain Gary’s 1964 novel The Ski Bum (or Adieu, Gary Cooper in French), the rock band Adieu Gary Gooper has been invited by the Embassy of Switzerland to participate to the 8th edition of the French speaking music festival, Mars en Folie. Organized with the Alliance Française network, the embassies of Canada, Switzerland and Belgium as well as Wallonia-Brussels Delegation and Quebec government offices in China as a Part of the Fête de la Francophonie, Mars en Folie stages 4 bands which are soon going to stir up young Chinese music fans.
Location: Hong Kong; Macau; Guangzhou; Beijing; Wuhan; Shanghai
Young Artist in Residence @ V54
An initiative run by a local charity, Po Leung Kuk, aiming to provide low rental fees and short-term residencies for young artists, to encourage them to express their appreciation of Art and Culture of East & West and life history, and also to make contributions to society by promoting the value of Art and Culture to young people.
