Asia House
Cultural Programme November-January 2014
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Cover Image Credit: Adnan Qazi
Welcome to Asia House Our upcoming winter season could not be more stylish. We will celebrate South Asian designers with our fashion focus events. In two curated evenings of catwalks and canapés, you can learn more about traditional and contemporary style from India and Pakistan. The Asia House Winter Fair returns bringing the usual fabulous selection of pan-Asian market stalls back into our London home in time for visitors to pick up gifts large and small, while supporting craftspeople and artists who celebrate Asian culture. If fashion is not for you, we have plenty of opportunities for you to get involved with stimulating discussions and debates. Hear David Pilling’s perspective on contemporary Japan, and scientific developments in the Arab world – the ‘other’ Arab revolution. Read on for these events and more including bestselling author Amy Tan joining us for lunch to discuss her latest novel.
Image credit: Rick Smocan
Image: Asia House Fair
Image credit: Peter Schiazza
Amy Tan - The Valley of Amazement - In conversation with Paul French p 7
Asia House Winter Fair 2013 p 10 – 11
Sattriya Dance Theatre: Traditional Dance and Music in Globalising Asia p 15
This programme covers our events focused on arts and culture. For full details of our 2
business and policy programme and corporate membership please see our website.
Connecting Cultures
Date
Enchanted by Details – An Exclusive Fashion Show 14 Nov
Fashion Parade – Celebrating the best of South Asian Fashion 15 Nov Literature, Ideas and Current Affairs
Amy Tan – The Vally of Amazement
22 Nov
Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival 14 Jan
The Other Revolution: Scientific Developments in the Arab World 28 Jan Performance
Sattriya Dance Theatre
21 Jan
Asia House Fair
Asia House Winter Fair 2013 6-8 Dec Asia House Friends, Patrons and Young Leaders
Young Leaders Talk Dr Faisal Devji
20 Nov
Shunga: sex and pleasure in Japanese art, 1600-1900 26 Nov Asia House Winter Fair Friends Preview 5 Dec Exhibitions – Presented at Asia House
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Pavilion of Memories – Wang Yabin 5-9 Nov
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Annya Sand ‘Study Of Russia’ 3-8 Dec
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Group Eight From the Edge 12-23 Nov
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Calendar Asia House
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Business and Policy Highlights The Asia House Business and Policy programme presents private briefings, events and public conferences throughout the year. For full details about our public events as well as Corporate Membership opportunities visit www.asiahouse.org
Private lunch with Mr John C Tsang, Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Tuesday 19 November 13.00 – 15.00 By invitation only.
Stephen Lillie: Director, Asia Pacific Directorate, Foreign & Commonwealth Office Evening Networking Reception Wednesday 27 November 18.00 – 20.00 Join us for an evening reception with Stephen Lillie as we celebrate his new appointment as Director Asia Pacific at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Caspian Corridor Conference 5–6 December The second annual conference will focus on opportunities and challenges faced by the nations of the Caspian region. See website for details
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Coming soon the Sixth Annual
Asia House Pan-Asian Film Festival Feburary – March 2014
Festival Sponsor
Navigating Asian Markets Coming this December An additional 8 guides on business opportunities and cultural guidance covering: Azerbaijan • Kazakhstan • Malaysia • Mongolia Myanmar (Burma) • Pakistan • the Philippines • Turkey The free guides will be available on our website and at Asia House. Supported by
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Lunch and
Literature
Amy Tan - The Valley of Amazement In conversation with Paul French
Thursday 28 November 12.00 Light Buffet Lunch 13.00-14.00 Discussion From the internationally renowned author of The Joy Luck Club, comes a new novel that spans fifty years and two continents. The Valley of Amazement resurrects lost worlds, from the collapse of China’s imperial dynasty to the inner workings of courtesan houses and the lives of foreigners living in Shanghai’s International Settlement. It is also a deeply evocative narrative of family secrets, the legacy of trauma, and the profound connections between mothers and daughters, which the author has so expertly mapped in her previous novels. Amy Tan’s other works include The Kitchen God’s Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses and The Bonesetter’s Daughter, all New York Times bestsellers. She will be in conversation with Paul French, author of Midnight in Peking.
Image Credit: Rick Smolan
Tickets £15 Concession £12 AH Friends £10
Ticket price includes a light buffet lunch.
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Asia House
Fashion Focus South Asian fashion is in an everevolving state, inspired by deeprooted traditions and modern worldwide trends. One element that stays constant however is the impact of heritage and the distinctive craftsmanship that is incorporated into clothing and accessories. During November, Asia House will focus on fashion with two shows celebrating designers from India and Pakistan and the impact of South Asian fashion on the West.
ENCHANTED BY DETAILS
An Exclusive Fashion Show of Contemporary Indian Designer Collections Thursday 14 November 18.45 – 21.00
Asia House will welcome Strand of Silk, a high-end retailer of designer Indian apparel and accessories, to present a glamorous evening focused on contemporary Indian fashion. The event will feature an exclusive fashion show featuring some of the best Indian designers and collections that are beautifully detailed and incorporate exquisite hand-embroidery. The fashion show will be followed by a drinks reception. Sponsored by Tickets £12 I Concession £10 I AH Friends £8 8
FASHION PARADE
Celebrating the best of South Asian Fashion Friday 15 November
Presented at Asia House by Mustang Productions in association with Encyclomedia PR
An elegant and exclusive fashion evening that will showcase the fine embroidery and craftsmanship of both Pakistani and Indian designers on one platform.
Image Credit: C. Adnan Qazi
Prominent members of the Asian business and media community will be present providing a fantastic opportunity for designers to network with the who’s who of the Asian fashion scene. The evening will include a reception, catwalk show and exhibition where guests will have the opportunity to purchase some beautiful couture pieces. Mustang Productions is an elite event, catwalk and TV production company, their Creative Head, Sadia Siddiqui, has been choreographing fashion shows for 10 years. By invitation only Contact Reception to register your interest.
Media partners
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Image Credit: C. Adnan Qazi
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Image Credit: Matt Chung
Asia House Winter Fair 6 – 8 December Admission Free
Our lively pop-up Asian marketplace returns this winter, transforming our headquarters into a buzzing Asian bazaar for three days of festive shopping away from the Oxford Street crowds. The fifth fair brings together over 35 exhibitors, selected to represent the best in arts, design and hand-craftsmanship from across the Asian region. This festive edition will present you the opportunity to buy unique and unusual gifts, items not normally seen on the high street.
Jewellery 10
Textiles
Furniture
Art
Books
Ornaments
Clothes
Handicrafts
Become a friend of Asia House and enjoy •
Up to 40% off the great range of Asia House public events
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Priority booking and private view for our special events
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Special discounts at range of shops and exciting Asian restaurants
Friends Membership From £50 Friday
10.00 – 20.00
Saturday
10.00 – 18.00
Sunday
11.00 – 16.00
Asia House Winter Fair Friends Preview
Become a Friend of Asia House and support our mission to build dynamic links between Europe and Asia! Enjoy a wide range of benefits and be part of a vibrant community celebrating the arts and cultures of Asia. To find out more about memberships contact Sidney Wang 0207 307 5454 www.asiahouse.org/memberships
Thursday 5 December 17.00 - 20.30 Join us for an exclusive evening reception and preview of the Asia House Winter Fair. A wonderful opportunity to meet stall holders, purchase gifts and enjoy an Asia House festive celebration.
Gift Membership available
Book your places online.
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Hold your festive celebrations at
ASIA HOUSE Treat friends
Reward colleagues
Thank clients
Find out more about our fabulous venue for hire venuehire@asiahouse.co.uk
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Asia House
Culture Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival – An eye-opening portrait of contemporary Japan David Pilling – Financial Times Asia editor Tuesday 14 January 18.45 – 20.00
Shunga: sex and pleasure in Japanese art, 1600-1900 British Museum Private view with curator Tim Clark Tuesday 26 November 18.30 – 19.30 A special after-hours Members event at the British Museum with Tim Clark, curator of Shunga: sex and pleasure in Japanese Art. Mostly created by the artists of the ukiyo-e or ‘floating world’ school, these popular works were known as shunga, ‘spring pictures’. Frequently tender and humorous, they celebrate sexual pleasure in all its forms in brilliantly coloured paintings and prints, culminating with beautiful and explicit works by iconic artists Utamaro, Hokusai and Kunisada. The exhibition sheds new light on this unique art form within Japanese social and cultural history. Places are limited – so please book early to avoid disappointment. Complimentary Patrons and Young Leaders Tickets £15 AH Friends £10 14
Drawing on a wide range of Japanese voices and on David Pilling’s own experiences living in Japan as a foreign correspondent, Bending Adversity explores contemporary Japan in all its facets. Few accounts have attempted to draw so many threads – economics, history, politics and contemporary reportage – together in one volume. With attention focused once more on Japan following Fukushima, and as territorial disputes heat up dangerously with China, join us for a very timely discussion as we lead up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Tickets £10 Concession £8 AH Friends £6
Sattriya Dance Theatre: Traditional Dance and Music in Globalising Asiaor Tuesday 21 January 18.45 – 20.00 Award-winning Indian classical dance soloist, choreographer and ethnomusicologist Menaka PP Bora returns to Asia House. She will perform an innovative dance production examining the dynamic music and dance traditions of the 16th century classical Sattriya dance of India within a contemporary context. Using speech, theatrical props, rare musical instruments and classical choreography, Menaka will explore the contemporary challenges of traditional dance and music from a pan- Asian perspective. Tickets £10 Concession £8 AH Friends £6
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Image credit: Peter Schiazza
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Asia House
Ideas The Other Revolution: Scientific Developments in the Arab World Panel Discussion with Ehsan Masood and Rim Turkmani Tuesday 28 January 18.45 – 20.00 As the Arab revolutions continue to play out, a new generation of leaders is emerging with many determined to strengthen universities and research centres, and to increase knowledge collaboration with the rest of the world. This is the other Arab revolution taking place, incrementally, and largely away of the media glare.
Tickets £10 Concession £8 AH Friends £6
Join our expert panel for an evening discussion on science, technology, democracy and generational change in the Arab world. Ehsan Masood is a science writer, journalist and broadcaster. He is the editor of Research Fortnight and teaches international science policy at Imperial College London. His most recent book is Science and Islam: A History. Rim Turkmani is a Syrian-born astrophysicist at Imperial College London and Dorothy Hodgkin is a Research Fellow of the Royal Society.
Young Leaders Talk Dr Faisal Devji Wednesday 20 November 19.00 – 21.00 Dr Faisal Devji is University Reader in Modern South Asian with an interest in Indian political thought as well as that of modern Islam. He will be discussing his views on his latest book Muslim Zion: Pakistan as a Political idea.
Our Young Leaders support our work and enjoy an
To find out more about Young Leaders, contact sally.herd@asiahouse.co.uk
exclusive programme of networking events and talks.
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Asia House
Young Leaders 17
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Our work is made possible through the generous support of companies and individuals. Asia House is particularly grateful for the support of:
Founding Stakeholders
We would like to thank our new and renewed corporate members, Patrons and Young Leaders: BG Group plc Metdist Ltd United Business Media
Champion Supporters
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Ms Katie Koch Mr Sam Myhrman Ms Madhu Ruia Mrs Nancy Miller Jong Sir Mark and Lady Moody-Stuart Sir William and Lady Purves
Image Credit: Matt Chung
Asia House is a centre of expertise on Asia. Our mission is to bring the UK and Asia closer through our pioneering events on business, policy and culture. We are the leading pan-Asian organisation in the UK, having built our reputation on our extensive network, our objectivity and our independence. We aim to deepen understanding of the cultural contexts in which we live, work and do business while preparing the next generation for greater engagement between Asia and the West. Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @asiahouseuk How to book Telephone +44 (0)20 7307 5454 Email: enquiries@asiahouse.co.uk Online: www.asiahouse.org
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