Auckland's big Little City
Lantern Festival at Auckland Art Gallery
Auckland Art Gallery is staying open late until 10pm on Friday 3, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 February. See below for more Lantern Festival fun:
Lantern Festival film screening: I.M. Pei — Building China Modern
This isn't your run-of-the-mill biopic. Instead, the film follows world-renowned architect Pei as he travels to his ancestral home in China after seven decades of living in the West and tries to introduce modernist ideas while preserving the country's heritage. For an architect in his twilight years, it's a challenge that leads to self reflection and personal discoveries - and inevitably, he enters a crucible of conflict.
The film took eight years to make as it follows Pei on his mission to internally integrate his Chinese heritage with his modern vision. He makes this manifest as a stunning museum that has at its heart a uniquely re-conceived Chinese garden that symbolizes the surprising twists and turns that his own life has taken.
'It is my biggest challenge,' says the 93 year-old architect who is best known for redesigning the Louvre in Paris. 'It is probably also my last challenge.'
China/USA 2010 / 59min. / English, Chinese with English subtitles.
Director Anne Makepeace.
Saturday 4 February - 1pm
Auditorium
Lantern Festival film screening: New Beijing
As China emerges as the economic powerhouse of the 21st century, Bejing is undergoing the biggest and fastest redevelopment since Haussmann redesigned Paris in the 19th century.
International architects Paul Andreu, Australia's PTW, OMA'S Ole Scheeren, and ARUP Engineers Rory McGowan and Tristram Carfrae change the city's face with new iconic buildings like the Watercube, Birds Nest, Stadium, National Theatre. The end of the Olympics has also signalled hundreds of new projects.
Not everyone is happy. Historic Qianmen, home of Peking Opera, is demolished and re-constructed in 2008 by developer SOHO and unveiled as a bizarre 'replica' of "Old Beijing".
Local resident Zhang Jinqi launches an inspirational project to photograph Qianmen and other Beijing districts facing demolition, gathering local residents to document their neighborhoods. This project grows to encompass six Chinese cities and in January 2009, Zhang and colleagues open the exhibition "Memory of China", showing the vanishing cultural heritage of Chinese cities.
Will the efforts of emerging Chinese NGO's like Zhang's or the global financial crisis slow the pace of change? Sadly, with 400 cities of the size of Beijing to be built by 2020, China may have little time to reflect.
Australia/China 2009 / 53min.
Director/Producer Georgia Wallace-Crabbe
Saturday 4 February - 3pm
Auditorium
Lantern Festival: HKFYG Hong Kong Melody Makers
A 15-minute set from the youth choir HKFYG Hong Kong Melody Makers. Established in 2004 by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups with sponsorship from The Dragon Foundation, the choir's aims are to reflect Hong Kong's vivacity and give voice to the city's cosmopolitan spirit.
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 February - 12pm daily
North atrium
Lantern Festival: David Wong on Auckland's Chinese heritage
David Wong is a prominent member of one of Auckland's Chinese founding families. Join David as he presents an illustrated talk on the fascinating history of the Chinese in colonial Auckland.
Sunday 5 February - 1pm
Auditorium/Boardroom
Lantern Festival: Shanghai Dragon & Lion Dance Group
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with performances by an award-winning dragon dance group from China.
Monday 6 February - 12pm
North atrium
Lantern Festival: Taizhou Opera and Dance Group
A performance of traditional acrobatic Chinese Luantan opera and modern dance.
Monday 6 February - 3.30pm
North atrium
Venue:OtherAddress:Auckland Art Gallery, Cnr Kitchener and Wellesley StreetsDate:6/02/2012 12:00PMTicket:FreeWebsite:View Website
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