ARALIK 2017
NEWSLETTER OF ASSOCIATION SUISSE TURQUIE
ARALIK 2017
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We wanted to end the year (or start the new year) on an inspirational note by bringing to your attention two exhibitions of Ai Weiwei which are running in parallel in both Istanbul and Lausanne.
One of the most influential artists of the contemporary art world, Ai Weiwei has used his art to address humanitarian and corruption issues in China and the refugee crisis in the World. In 2011 he was arrested as a “political dissident” in China and since 2015 he lives in exile, mostly in Berlin. He believes that “Art is innocent, but it is also a means of questioning the establishment.”
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At the Sabancı Museum in Istanbul, the exhibition “Ai Weiwei on Porcelain” is a retrospective of more than 100 artworks. It presents a narrative informed by the artist’s life story, philosophy and approach to traditional Chinese craft. His work “Tiger, Tiger, Tiger” encapsulates his view of the relationship between the individual and the society. His art practice provides the viewer with a perspective on the paradoxes of our time.
At Palais de Rumine in Lausanne, the exhibition “Ai Weiwei: It’s Always the Others” brings together Weiwei’s life experiences. “Blossom” a massive carpet made of porcelain flowers is a reference to Mao’s campaign called 100 flowers, which led to the imprisonment of many artists during that time, including Weiwei’s father, the poet Ai Qing.
Both exhibitions run until January 28.
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http://www.sakipsabancimuzesi.org/en/page/exhibitions/ai-weiwei-porcelain
http://www.mcba.ch/expositions/en-cours
We wish you a lovely festive season and a very Happy New Year!
Editors
Please keep us posted on events and news that you would like to share at
editorsassosuisseturquie@gmail.com
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DECEMBER AND JANUARY EVENTS
Association Events
Fondue Night – January 24 from 19h30
Geneva
Our annual fondue night is quite popular and places are limited. Make sure to sign up early!!
Kindly register at assosuisseturquie@gmail.com.
For future Association events :
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«Bitcoin, Blockchain and all that Jazz» December 11, 12:30pm
Auditorium A1B, Maison de la Paix, Geneva
The conference is held in English by Prof. Alexandre Swodoba. Virtual currencies such as Bitcoin and distributed ledger technologies like Blockchain have been mooted as disruptive forces that would fundamentally transform finance and payments. They have also been dismissed as hype, fodder for bubbles, and Ponzi schemes. This briefing will explore the two sides of the argument, assess the potential for virtual currencies, Bitcoin among others, to serve as money in a significant sense. For more information:
http://graduateinstitute.ch/events/_/events/corporate/2017/bitcoin-blockchain-and-all-that
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«Transpatialization: A new look at the old question of how the modern world was formed» December 13, at 18:15
Auditorium A2, Maison de la Paix, Geneva
The conference is based on Cyrus Schayegh’s own book “The Middle East and the Making of the Modern World”. He distinguishes Transpatialization from Globalization and focuses on how the former, a fast-ryhtmed reciprocal transformation of cities, region, states… was created through transnational linkages in Ottoman and European empire-states, and in post-Ottoman nation-states. For more information:
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“Les grands portraits de Nadar” – Until January 15
L’Institut Français d’Istanbul, Istanbul
Nadar or Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, was an important portraitist during the Second Empire in France. Starting as a writer, moving to become a caricaturist, he finally settled on photography. His photographic works are celebrated not only because of their artistic value but also due to their subjects which include Théophile Gautier, Baudelaire, Daudet and even Sarah Bernhardt. In turn, he also influenced the artists around him and is honoured by Honoré Daumier in paintings and by Jules Verne who made him the hero of his novel “De la Terre à la Lune”.
For more details on the exhibition:
http://www.ifturquie.org/fr/events/nadarin-buyuk-portreleri/
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
We bid farewell to Barbaros Dicle, Turkey’s Consul General of Geneva and his wife Esra.
At the last Happy Hour of our association, we had the opportunity to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs Dicle. We would like to present our best wishes to them for their future mission.
Lausanne Bizim Lozan on SaleThe much-praised book recently published by our Association is available for purchase:
Bookstore Letu in Geneva
Shop Hotel Beau-Rivage Palace, Ouchy Lausanne
Gallery Heritage in Geneva
and also on
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22298731039&searchurl=sortby%3D0%26vci%3D601833
We believe it will be a much-appreciated gift by your friends and family!
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RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Jacques Dubochet of University of Lausanne has been awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry
He is the 26th Swiss national to win a Nobel prize and the 8th one in chemistry, Switzerland’s field of strength. His frank and humorous CV begins with his being conceived by optimistic parents, alludes to challenges with dyslexia as a child as well as a fear of darkness. The need to face his fears and understand the frightening things lead to a keen scientific curiosity.
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13th Swiss-Turkish Economic forum took place on December 5 in Istanbul
This year’s forum was titled “Rethinking tomorrow’s business model: How to stay competitive in digital age”. In a world marked by rapid changes in society and technology, we find our selves in a position where many of our international businesses remain under strong margin pressure despite many years of steadily increased efficiency and ongoing product innovation. What can businesses do to respond to todayʼs market conditions?
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Swiss pianist Theo Gheoghiu’s recital was at Sabancı Museum on November 14
The 1st prize winner of Saint-Martin international competition and Franz Liszt competition, Gheoghiu was a child prodigy and is an internationally reclaimed artist. This time in Istanbul he played Brahms, Chopin, Schumann and Mussorgsky.
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New Ambassador of Switzerland is Mr. Dominique Paravicini
Mr Paravicini was recently welcomed by the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Turkey. Previously he was the deputy director of the Directorate of European Affairs in Bern.
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ARTS UPDATE sponsored by Cornucopia Magazine
ISTANBUL
Lokalize: Deniz Tekin, singer songwriter
Concert at Zorlu Performing Arts Centre, Levent
Wednesday December 6 at 9pm
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/lokalize-deniz-tekin/
Istanbul Recitals: Martina Filjak, piano
The Seed at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Emirgan
Tuesday December 12 at 8pm
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/istanbul-recitals-martina-filjak/
Opening this month:
A Place Where Light Casts Many Enigmatic Shadows

Experimental photographers Pinelopi Gerasimou & Blanca Viñas
artSümer, Karaköy
December 8–January 27
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/a-place-where-light-casts-many-enigmatic-shadows/
Oculus
Photographer Yusuf Sevinçli, solo exhibition
Galerist, BeyoÄŸlu
December 14–January 27
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/oculus/
Continuing this month:
Present Tense
Sculptor Seyhun Topuz
Galeri Nev, BeyoÄŸlu
Until December 9
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/present-tense/
Sense of Movement
Group photo media exhibition
Mixer, BeyoÄŸlu
Until December 9
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/sense-of-movement/
in-finite
Julie Upmeyer, site-specific exhibition
Operation Room, Nişantaşı
Until December 9
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/in-finite/
Majaz
Iranian artist Sahand Hesamiyan
Blok Art Space, BeyoÄŸlu
Until December 15
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/majaz/
Fact And Fiction
Los Angeles-based photographer Ryan Schude
x-ist, Nişantaşı
Until December 23
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/fact-and-fiction/
Behind Mount Qaf
Multi-media exhibition
ARTER, BeyoÄŸlu
Until December 24
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/behind-mount-qaf/
Across The Line
Digital arts group exhibition
Zorlu Performing Arts Centre, Levent
Until December 25
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/across-the-line/
Storyteller
Works by Ruth Biller, Jan Kuck and Serkan Küçüközcü
Anna Laudel Contemporary, Karaköy
Until December 27
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/storyteller/
Family Trees 2016-2017
Özdemir Altan, exhibition
Kare Gallery, Nişantaşı
Until December 30
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/family-trees-2016-2017/
A: Gülcin Aksoy
Solo exhibition
Zilberman Gallery and Project Space, BeyoÄŸlu
Until December 30
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/a/
Open into 2018:
The Curious Case of Çatalhöyük
ANAMED Research Centre for Anatolian Civilizations, BeyoÄŸlu
Until January 14
http://www.cornucopia.net/events/the-curious-case-of-catalhoyuk/
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