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
Hong Kong Arts Centre in collaboration with the Consulate General of Switzerland and Swiss Films organizes a film festival about Swiss documentaries on adolescence.
Location: Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Monday, 27.03.2017
Friday, 31.03.2017,
Diploma of Advanced Studies – Executive Education on Global Culture
Lecture
Zurich University of the Arts in conjunction with Connecting Spaces Hong Kong-Zurich is now accepting applications for three courses in curatorial management and critical theory as part of their innovative 2017 “Executive Education on Global Culture” programme
Location: Connecting Spaces Hong Kong - Zurich, G/F, Kin Wah Mansion, 18 Fort Street, North Point, Hong Kong
The first solo exhibition of Urs Fischer in Asia, Gagosian is pleased to present his new works with a title of a musical staff, with a treble clef and several notes position along four – rather than the customary five lines. The notation implies music, but with no apparent tune; it is a title, yet it is inexpressible. This exhibition comprises eleven large-scale tableaux made up of found images, expressive gestures, and photographs of the artist’s personal spaces. But these pictures are neither paintings nor photographs, neither abstract nor representational. By digitally manipulating photographs of brushstrokes, Fischer forges gestural streaks by inserting and blurring images of television screens, faces, and more. The brushstrokes are silkscreened over “homescapes” and “studioscapes” (domestic and atelier views) that provide glimpses of works in progress, art materials, furniture, and artworks from Fischer’s own collection.
Location: Gagosian, 7/F Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central, Hong Kong
This is the first show in Asia for Swiss artistic duo Pablo Togni and Christian Rebecchi, better known as NEVERCREW. They began to collaborate in 1995 while attending art school in Lugano, designing graphics and illustrations for vinyls and mix-tapes. Initially influenced by 90’s hip-hop culture and the art of comics, the two began to develop their unique visual storytelling style in their grafitti work, embedding political and environmental messages in strikingly hyper-realistic large-scale works. The distinctive style of NEVERCREW blends two and three dimensional spaces, integrating disconnected elements to convey society’s deeply conflicting reliance on both natural and mechanical systems. By casting their concepts on large public surfaces, NEVERCREW brings their messages into dialogue with the public, extending our examination of humankind’s core struggle to strike a balance between the demands of lifestyle, efficiency and our collective obligations towards our environment.
Location: Above Second Gallery, 9 First St, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
"Heimatland" is neither neutral nor democratic or representative – it is a subjective, self-critical snapshot from the point of view of a new generation of Swiss filmmakers.Location: AG710, 7A, Core A, Chung Sze Yuen Building, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Location: Location: AG710, 7A, Core A, Chung Sze Yuen Building, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Friday, 03.03.2017
Friday, 03.03.2017
Literature
Daniel de Roulet is a French-speaking Swiss writer. After his education as an architect, he earned his life as an IT specialist in telecommunication.Since 1997 he has devoted himself entirely to writing.He is the author of some thirty books, including a cycle of ten novels that trace, through the history of two families, the heroic deed of nuclear power from Hiroshima to Fukushima, from the triumph of science to questioning of its excess.Daniel de Roulet is also the author of travel stories, including "Tous les lointains sont bleus" published by Phébus, and critical essays, including "Tu n’as rien vu à Fukushima".The writer will be present for a reading of his latest work “Territoire terrestre” and to dedicate his book.
Location: Librairie Parenthèses, 2/F, Duke of Wellington House, 14-24 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Film Screening of the Swiss Movie: A Decent Man /Nichts Passiert-Broadway Cinematheque (16 February 2017, 19:45) Prosperous Garden, 3 Public Square Street, Yaumatei, Kowloon-AMC Pacific Place (18 February 2017, 13:30) 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
The European Union Gala Concert is a musical celebration of European films. Our live orchestra will dazzle film fans and music aficionados with scores of timeless European films accompanied by a projection of their most memorable scenes. The concert will be followed by a reception and the screening of the opening film of the European Union Film Festival "The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki".
Location: The HK Polytechnic University Jockey Club Auditorium, 11 Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
The 1st 1905 Human Rights Film Festival is an intercultural event that aims at raising awareness on human rights issues in Hong Kong and Mainland China through the organization of film screenings, discussions and debates with filmmakers and members of NGOs and activists. The Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong is proud to be a platinum sponsor and to provide three Swiss films to the festival.
Location: Various venues, please refer to the specific screening
Hong Kong 1952 exhibition of the late Swiss Magnum Photographer, Werner Bischof (1916 – 1954). The 85 photos selected for this exhibition constitute a lively documentary of the 1952 Hong Kong where extremes abound. Bischof’s photos revealed Hong Kong as a rapidly growing community in search of a delicate balance between East and West, old and new, affluence and otherwise, with a strong common desire to begin a new page in this haven of hope. The exhibition is also to commemorate the 100th birthday of Bischof, and to celebrate his life and achievements.
Location: F11 Photographic Museum, 11 Yuk Sau Street, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
The global society, demographics, the environment and the economy are in constant change just as are technologies, materials and our knowledge and experience. How do we reply to changing needs and problems by leaving common tracks? By no surprise this year’ topic of the Hong Kong design week is Game Changer as not only design as such, but as a way of thinking proves to be an innovating approach to holistic solutions that deploys not only change but also added-value. Join us for this Pecha Kucha – a series of short presentations – featuring Swiss and Hong Kong based designers, entrepreneurs and educators from different design fields.
Location: 7-9 pm, Connecting Space, G/F, Wah Kin Mansion, 18-20 Fort Street, North Point, Hong Kong
The Leica workshop will consist of a walk through Hong Kong learning how to produce powerful imagery with your camera by searching for light, colours and people. Dominic will give tips and advice along the way. He will also talk about his assignments with National Geographic, Time Magazine and others around the globe and in conflict areas.
BIG GAME stands for a youthful and refreshing design idiom, notable both for its functionality and for its playful approach – one that succeeds in redefining the Swiss design quality that everyone talks about.
Location: 5:00 – 6:30 pm, DeTour Café at PMQ, Hong Kong
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.