12 Jul 2009
Creative Chinese Go Bananas
Auckland, New Zealand (July 2009) - Creative. Cool. Chinese. High-profile Kiwi Chinese impacting the homegrown creative industries and international arena are a highlight on day one of this year's Rising Dragons, Soaring Bananas International Conferenceat The University of Auckland Business School.
The Visually Chinese and Creative Cool Chinese panel sessions on Saturday 18 July will showcase the journeys, stories and identities of artists from television stars and musicians to visual communicators and fashion designers.
These sessions seek to explore a contemporary face of Asia and offshore urban influences that most New Zealanders have previously not associated with creativity from Chinese communities in this country or abroad.
The lineup of creative personalities include:
- Chang Hung - radio producer and television presenter
- Liyen Chong - Visual Artist and Graphic Designer
- Frank Liew - Blogger, Hypebeast and Founder, Qubic
- Natalie Chan - Fashion Designer and Milliner
- Ron Sang – Architect and Art Collector
- Susan Louie – Glass Sculpturist
- Peap Tarr – Urban Artist
- Kerry Ann Lee – Visual Artist and Designer
- Marcus Lui – Creative Director
- The Flying Puppets – Four-piece band
Visually Chinese session is kindly sponsored by Creative New Zealand.
ENDS
Media Contact: Alistair Kwun, +64 21 774 789, ak698@xtra.co.nz
BACKGROUND TO RISING DRAGONS, SOARING BANANAS
Rising Dragons, Soaring Bananas is presented by the New Zealand Chinese Association Auckland Inc. and the International Society for the Studies of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO).
Principal Sponsors are New Zealand Post, The University of Auckland Business School and BNZ.
DATE: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July, 2009
VENUE: The University of Auckland Business School, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland
COST: $170 (individual); $200 (organizations per person); $90 (full-time students/persons 65 years +)
REGISTRATION: Open now. Register and pay online
URL: http://www.goingbananas.org.nz Facebook Fan Page (keyword: ‘Going Bananas International Conference’)
NEW ZEALAND CHINESE ASSOCIATION
Established in 1935, the New Zealand Chinese Association www.nzchinese.org.nz is the oldest Chinese organisation of its kind in New Zealand. As a national body with 13 branches nationwide, it represents the interests of long-established and new migrants, leading New Zealand Chinese into the future.
ISSCO
International Society for the Studies of Chinese Overseas www.issco.info is a collective of international scholars whose works push the boundaries of Chinese migration and diasporic studies. Membership ranges from countries as diverse as Denmark, Russia, South Africa, Singapore, Australia and the USA.
BANANA
Historically, a pejorative term to describe Asian people born outside of Asia who have assumed Western cultural characteristics: yellow on the outside, white on the inside. Reclaimed in recent times, it has become a symbol that identifies those living outside of Asia who celebrate and embrace a blend of Eastern and Western cultures and influences.