New Graduate-Level Educational Format in the Arts based in Hong Kong
A project of Zurich University of the Arts, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, City University of Hong Kong/School of Creative Media, China Academy of Art/School of Intermedia Art/Hangzhou, Taipei National University of the Arts and Tokyo University of the Arts
In 2015 we launched a pioneering transcultural and cross-disciplinary educational format called “Transcultural Collaboration” for graduate students of all art and design disciplines. Selected students from the involved partner institutions have the possibility to study for one semester within this specific program, which will be based mainly in Hong Kong.
Transcultural Collaboration 2015
General Content „Transcultural Collaboration“
The basis of the project is the need for a discussion and understanding of “globalization” and its emerging questions and issues. It is obvious that globalization is not only about expanding production, consumption and communication, but also implies the problems and potentials of differentiation and distinction, of provoking otherness, of different forms of cultural evolution and blending, or of influencing power structures.
The programme has two central characteristics that can only be experienced and explored in this very specific setting. First of all it focuses on topics of transculturality as the key content that includes subjects like traditions, identity, genealogy of the present, values, ethics, different forms of life or globalization specifically between Europe and South East Asia. Given their sensitivity to social and cultural conditions, and their ability to formulate and express a variety of topics with aesthetic means, artistic and design practices can make an ideal contribution to transcultural discourse. Participants will acquire profound competences, which are more and more in demand working in international contexts, learning about the other and being able to reflect one’s own culture. Hong Kong is predestined as an exemplary location within this thematic context.
Secondly practical cross-disciplinary collaboration between cultures and art forms is the second important focus of the programme and its principal working method. This approach will promote intensive exchange and first-hand experience of the transcultural topics as well as further differentiate and extend one’s own discipline. Theoretical inputs help participants to critically reflect on transculturality and to gain further insights into this pressing issue.
How to disappear nearly compleatly
Curriculum
On the background of the transcultural and cross-disciplinary focus three main phases define the basic structure of the semester: The starting phase is dedicated to questions of “self-awareness”, as well as the introduction of the specific interests of the participating students and lecturers that will highly influence the semester content. Based on that the constitution of mixed groups and their topics will be the starting point for the practical cross-disciplinary work and the development art and design projects involving the range of disciplines and competences of the group members. Followed by a second phase that is dedicated to the topic of “collaboration” thus questions of how we collaborate and position ourselves related to our culture, traditions, society, art, other disciplines or a business environment. The third phase called “trans public” where we focus on questions of art and design production and reception. While the practical character of the three main phases is central it will be strongly connected to theoretical inputs and reflection in the fields of Asian and European (historical and contemporary) culture, issues of transculturality, art and design practice and cultural management in various formats like lectures, panels, literature, workshops or mentoring. Between the three main parts of the semester programme there will be two inserts where one will be a two weeks excursion in Europe or Asia as well as a specific workshop lead by renowned artists.
The semester concludes in a public presentation of the group works in Hong Kong (on 20/21 November 2015, partly as well on 27/28 Nov at Clockenflap Festival/HK) followed by documentation and reflection of the whole process in the final week of the program.
Hou Gau Yeh!
Further Education and Exchange of Faculty
The transcultural and cross-disciplinary context also puts the lecturers in the position of “learners” in this programme. Like the participating students, lecturers will also be required to expose themselves to transcultural issues, to engage in critical self-reflection, and to work in cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary teams. In association with the students, lecturers will be largely responsible for developing the concrete contents, methods, and attitudes of the individual semester. In this manner, they will gain first-hand experience and knowledge of transcultural and cross-disciplinary learning environments that they can apply and implement at their home institutions afterwards.
Hou Gau Yeh!
Field of Excellence and Global Network
Through the innovative focus on questions of transculturality and cross-disciplinary practice we are building up a leading international centre of excellence in these fields which will help to extend the global network of the involved partners, lecturers and students and contribute substantially to the reflection and discussion of current problems.
work in progress
Partners
Main Partners
Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA)
City University of Hong Kong/School of Creative Media (CityU/SCM)
China Academy of Art/School of Intermedia Art, Hangzhou (CAA/SIMA)
Additional Partners
Taipei National University of the Arts, Taiwan (TNUA)
Tokyo University of the Arts, Dep. of Fine Arts
Hong Kong Baptist University, Academy of Visual Arts (HKBU/AVA)
Supported by
Mercator Foundation Switzerland
Participating Students “Transcultural Collaboration 2015”
Fabian Gutscher, MA Transdisciplinarity, ZHdK
Larissa Holaschke, MA Design/FoE Event, ZHdK
Isabelle Sprenger, MA Music Pedagogy, ZHdK
Nina Willimann, MA Transdisciplinarity, ZHdK
Philipp Spillmann, MA Publishing Studies, ZHdK
Ana-Maria Negrea, MA Theatre/Scenography, ZHdK
Benjamin Ryser, MA Contemporary Music, ZHdK
Simon Dietersdorfer, MA Composition for Film, Media, Theatre, ZHdK
Nicolas Müller, MA Theatre/Acting, ZHdK
Tobias Fandel, MA Transdisciplinarity, ZHdK
Ida Sons, MA Art Education, ZHdK
Lan Ziyan, MA Intermedia Art, China Academy of Art (CAA), Hangzhou
Li Chaoran, MA Intermedia Art, CAA, Hangzhou
Ma Haijiao, MA Intermedia Art, CAA, Hangzhou
Liu Xiaobin, MA Fine Arts in Creative Media, HK City University, School of Creative Media (SCM)
Wong Ka Chung, MA Fine Arts in Creative Media, HK City University, SCM
Wu Jiaru, MA Fine Arts in Creative Media, HK City University, SCM
Liu Siyuan, MA Film Producing, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA)
Lin Yingchi, MA Dance, HKAPA
Li Shang-Chiao, Int. MA Cultural and Creative Industries, Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA)
Arai Mayumi, MA Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts
Mah Liane, Independent Artist, Hong Kong
Participating Lecturers/Guests “Transcultural Collaboration 2015”
Responsible Project Coordinators/Lecturers
Daniel Späti, Head of Transcultural Collaboration, ZHdK
Zheng Bo, Assistant Professor, CityU/School of Creative Media, HK
Shi Ke, Associate Professor, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou
Jim McGowan, Senior Lecturer (Sound), MFA Coordinator TEA, HK Academy for Performing Arts
Lecturers
Heinrich Lüber, Artist, Head of MA Art Education ZHdK
Kingsley Ng, Artist/Designer, HK Baptist University
Florian Dombois, Artist/Researcher/Lecturer, ZHdK
Hongjohn Lin, Chair Fine Arts Dep. and Transdisciplinary Studies, TNUA
Jörg Scheller, Curator/Theorist, Head of BA Photography, ZHdK
Nuria Krämer, Head of Connecting Space HK, ZHdK
Stephen Cheung, Head of Graduate Education Centre, HKAPA
Hayat Erdogan, Dramaturgist/Theorist, ZHdK
Matthias Ziegler, Musician/Lecturer ZHdK
Patrick Müller, Head of Connecting Spaces HK-ZH, Head of MA Transdisciplinary Studies ZHdK
various additional lecturers
Assistants
Christopher Kriese, Director, Assistant BA Directing ZHdK
Katja Gläss, Artist/Photographer, Assistant MA Transdisciplinary Studies ZHdK
Andrea Roca, Designer/Curator, ZHdK
External Guests
Zhao Chuan, Director/Author, Shanghai
Eisa Jocson, Dancer/Choreographer, Manila
Björn Beneditz, Artist and Member of German pop band “Deichkind”, Hamburg
Xiaolu Guo, Novelist/Film Director, China
Jay Forster, Art Director, Clockenflap Festival HK
Andalus, Cultural Activist, Zurich
Contact
Daniel Späti
Head of Transcultural Collaboration
daniel.spaeti@zhdk.ch
www.transculturalcollaboration.com
CH: +41 79 432 81 03
HK: +852 6239 3079
Patrick Müller
Head of Connecting Spaces Hong Kong – Zurich
patrick.mueller@zhdk.ch