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Asia HouseCultural ProgrammeNovember-January 2014

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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.

This programme covers our events focused on arts and culture. For full details of our business and policy programme and corporate membership please see our website.

Welcome to Asia HouseCover Image Credit: Adnan Qazi

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Image: Asia House FairImage credit: Rick Smocan Image credit: Peter Schiazza

Amy Tan - The Valley of Amazement - In conversation with Paul French p 7

Sattriya Dance Theatre: Traditional Dance and Music in Globalising Asia p 15

Asia House Winter Fair 2013 p 10 – 11

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Connecting Cultures Date PageEnchanted by Details – An Exclusive Fashion Show 14 Nov 8Fashion Parade – Celebrating the best of South Asian Fashion 15 Nov 9 Literature, Ideas and Current Affairs Amy Tan – The Vally of Amazement 22 Nov 7Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival 14 Jan 14The Other Revolution: Scientific Developments in the Arab World 28 Jan 17 PerformanceSattriya Dance Theatre 21 Jan 15 Asia House FairAsia House Winter Fair 2013 6-8 Dec 10 Asia House Friends, Patrons and Young LeadersYoung Leaders Talk Dr Faisal Devji 20 Nov 17Shunga: sex and pleasure in Japanese art, 1600-1900 26 Nov 14Asia House Winter Fair Friends Preview 5 Dec 11 Exhibitions – Presented at Asia House Pavilion of Memories – Wang Yabin 5-9 Nov 19Group Eight From the Edge 12-23 Nov 18Annya Sand ‘Study Of Russia’ 3-8 Dec 12

Asia House

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Business and Policy Highlights

Private lunch with Mr John C Tsang, Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionTuesday 19 November 13.00 – 15.00By invitation only.

Stephen Lillie: Director, Asia Pacific Directorate, Foreign & Commonwealth OfficeEvening Networking ReceptionWednesday 27 November 18.00 – 20.00Join 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 Conference5–6 DecemberThe second annual conference will focus on opportunities and challenges faced by the nations of the Caspian region.See website for details

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

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Asia House Pan-Asian Film Festival

Navigating Asian MarketsComing this December

An additional 8 guides on business opportunities and cultural guidance covering:Azerbaijan • Kazakhstan • Malaysia • Mongolia Myanmar (Burma) • Pakistan • the Philippines • Turkey

Coming soon the Sixth Annual

Feburary – March 2014

The free guides will be available on our website and at Asia House.

Supported by

Festival Sponsor

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Tickets £15Concession £12 AH Friends £10

Amy Tan - The Valley of Amazement In conversation with Paul French

Thursday 28 November

12.00 Light Buffet Lunch13.00-14.00 Discussion

Image Credit: Rick Smolan

Lunch and Literature

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.

Ticket price includes a light buffet lunch.

South Asian fashion is in an ever-evolving state, inspired by deep-rooted 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.

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.

ENCHANTED BY DETAILSAn Exclusive Fashion Show of Contemporary Indian Designer Collections

Thursday 14 November 18.45 – 21.00

Tickets £12 I Concession £10 I AH Friends £8

Sponsored by

Fashion FocusAsia House

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FASHION PARADECelebrating the best of South Asian Fashion

Friday 15 November

An elegant and exclusive fashion evening that will showcase the fine embroidery and craftsmanship of both Pakistani and Indian designers on one platform.

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.

Presented at Asia House by Mustang Productions in association with Encyclomedia PR

By invitation only Contact Reception to register your interest.

Media partners

9Image Credit: C. Adnan Qazi

Image Credit: C. Adnan Qazi

6 – 8 DecemberAdmission Free

Asia House Winter Fair

Jewellery Textiles Furniture Art Books Ornaments Clothes Handicrafts

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.

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Image Credit: Matt Chung

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Friday 10.00 – 20.00

Saturday 10.00 – 18.00

Sunday 11.00 – 16.00

Gift Membership available

Become a friend of Asia House and enjoy

• Up to 40% off the great range of Asia House public events

• Priority booking and private view for our special events

• Special discounts at range of shops and exciting Asian restaurants

Asia House Winter Fair Friends PreviewThursday 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.

Book your places online.

To find out more about memberships contact Sidney Wang 0207 307 5454

www.asiahouse.org/memberships

Friends MembershipFrom £50Become 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.

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Hold your festive celebrations at

ASIA HOUSE

Find out more about our fabulous venue for hirevenuehire@asiahouse.co.uk

Treat friends Reward colleagues Thank clients

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Shunga: sex and pleasure in Japanese art, 1600-1900British 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.

Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival – An eye-opening portrait of contemporary JapanDavid Pilling – Financial Times Asia editor

Tuesday 14 January 18.45 – 20.00

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

Complimentary Patrons and Young LeadersTickets £15AH Friends £10

Tickets £10Concession £8 AH Friends £6

Asia House

Culture

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Tickets £10Concession £8 AH Friends £6

Sattriya Dance Theatre: Traditional Dance and Music in Globalising AsiaorTuesday 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.

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Young Leaders TalkDr Faisal DevjiWednesday 20 November 19.00 – 21.00

Asia House

Young Leaders

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 exclusive programme of networking events and talks.

To find out more about Young Leaders, contact sally.herd@asiahouse.co.uk

Asia House

IdeasThe 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.

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.

Tickets £10Concession £8 AH Friends £6

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Founding Stakeholders

Champion Supporters

We would like to thank our new and renewed corporate members, Patrons and Young Leaders:

BG Group plcMetdist LtdUnited Business Media

Ms Katie KochMr Sam MyhrmanMs Madhu RuiaMrs Nancy Miller JongSir Mark and Lady Moody-StuartSir William and Lady Purves

Our work is made possible through the generous support of companies and individuals.Asia House is particularly grateful for the support of:

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.

Registered Charity 1072696

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Image Credit: Matt Chung