Various events are organized by the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing or by the Consulates General in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. In this rich program, one of the flagship event is Mars en Folie, the unique French speaking contemporary music festival in China, organized in collaboration with the Alliances Françaises network, the Embassies of Canada Switzerland and Belgium, the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation, as well as the Quebec Government Offices in China. For the edition 2016 the Swiss Embassy has invited the singer Fabian Tharin, who will bewitch the Chinese audience with his incantatory rhythms.
Another music event; the Consulate General in Shanghai organizes on March 13th a recital of the Pêcheurs de Rêves (The Dream Catcher). Swiss singer Laurent Brunetti, accompanied by the pianist Mario Pacchioli, interprets the “chanson française” (French songs) at its purest tradition, with lyrics and melodies that vibrate your entire being.
As a partner of the Francophone Film Encounters, Switzerland presents this year "Tapis Rouge", directed by Fred Bailiff, who will himself attend several screenings in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing and answer questions of the audience. The film will also be screened on March 29th at the China Film Archives on the occasion of the closing ceremony of this year’s Film Encounters.
Several conferences are going to take place in Shanghai and Beijing. In Shanghai, the Swiss journalist Raphaël Grand will share the secrets of the French language evolution in Switzerland at the Jifeng Bookstore on March 12th. In the same city, those architecture enthusiasts will certainly enjoy meeting the world renowned Swiss architect, Bernard Tschumi, who will launch his exhibition "Concept & Notation" at the Power Station of Art on March 13th. In Beijing, literature lovers should not miss the chance to communicate with the Geneva-based author Yves Laplace at the Bookworm Festival.
Thanks to the project "Swiss Window in Asia" curated by Stéphane Noël in collaboration with Pro Helvetia, the Swiss contemporary dance and theater will have the honor to be introduced this year in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Macau and Beijing. Six choreographers and directors from Switzerland, including Alexandra Bachzetsis, Marie-Caroline Hominal, La Ribot, Yann Marussich, Martin Schick and 2B Company, will transcend aesthetics in appealing to artistic performances of human body and visual art displayed in a series of realizations. Get yourself surprised by all those artistic, extrordinary or even weird experiences.
The Swiss cultural diversity can also be discovered through many other private happenings this spring. The exhibition of the Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti is one of the perfect examples. His first retrospective exhibition will soon be launched at Yuz Museum in Shanghai, where more than 250 works will be exhibited from March 22nd to July 31st. Besides, some of his drawings will also be displayed at Hadrien de Montferrand Gallery in Beijing from March 12th to April 25th, on the occasion of a group exhibition of Alberto Giacometti, Balthus, Henri Matisse, Pierre Bonnard and Juan Gris.
The Embassy of Switzerland is also involved in the organization of the “dictée de Pivot” together with the French Embassy. This year in China, the “dictée de Pivot” has been transformed in a WeChat game inviting young Chinese from 18 to 25 years old to discover 20 francophone expressions in French language. The best 29 players will qualify for an exceptional Grand Finale, on March 20th at the Swiss Residence, which will be transformed into a prestigious examination hall. The winner will win a magnificent trip for two persons to France and Switzerland.
Please visit the agenda of the Swiss Embassy and Pro Helvetia for more information.
