When Astad Deboo met Thomas Mettler

Pro Helvetia New Delhi facilitated a meeting between the two dance legends Astad Deboo and Thomas Mettler in the village of Intranga in Camedo, Switzerland and the outcome was sheer magic.

Pro Helvetia New Delhi facilitated a meeting between the two dance legends Astad Deboo and Thomas Mettler and the outcome was sheer magic.  

Astad Deboo travelled to Switzerland and spent time with Thomas Meddler from 16 June to 1 July 2009.
The rehearsals were in the village of Intranga in Camedo, Switzerland.

In the words of Astad Deboo:
"The purpose of this residency was to spend time exploring our dance vocabulary. Thomas comes from a Physical Theatre and a mime background. My dance vocabulary has a lot of Indian elements along with contemporary dance. We rehearsed with our different styles and explored ways to see how our styles can blend in presenting a new language.

Besides the actual physical work, there were lots of time spent on discussion of what dance meant, what was the present scenario and how our works stood in todays context. Many evenings were spent in seeing each other's work on the video. Thomas also shared works of other European dancers who he had worked with."

Artist in Residence Mohammad Salam Abdus at the Villa Sträuli

Works of Artist in Residence Mohammad Salam Abdus from Dhaka, Bangladesh on exhibit at the Kunstraum Winterthur.

Artist in Residence, Mohammad Salam Abdus from Dhaka, Bangladesh is currently at the Villa Sträuli on a residency. This residency was possible thru the support of the Pro Helvetia office in New Delhi.

The Bangladeshi artist works with print making, painting, installation, conceptual print, and new media. He uses footpaths, broken pediments or walls as his plates - the pediments or plates that have a history irrespective of being debatable or non-debatable.    

About my work        
I have been observing my time and ambient situation sharply wherein I get to see things and especially, society, politics, life-style are synonymous to cruel, vulgar, titillating and fantasised commercial ‘Bangla Cinema’ - which I comprehend as the height of today’s culture. We tend to forget our authenticity…our cultural heritage, day to day happenings, history, our heroes, their devotion because of the ever-increasing satellite culture that’s been reinforcing to change or at least grab the share of our culture for quite some time now. Single-centric heroism compels us to produce narcissism in the society we live in…inspires us to turn-off from the motherland…making us to be robotic! In the name of Globalisation capitalists, Medias, media men keep on creating   

Mohammad Salam Abdus 
Villa Sträuli  

Pro Helvetia New Delhi relocating to new premises

With effect from 4 September 2009, Pro Helvetia New Delhi is moving to its new premises at A-69 Nizamuddin East, Second Floor, New Delhi

With effect from 4 September 2009, Pro Helvetia New Delhi is moving to its new premises at:
Pro Helvetia New Delhi
Swiss Arts Council
A-69 Nizamuddin East
Second Floor
New Delhi 110013 India
The telephone numbers and email addresses remain unchanged and are as under:
Tel. +91 11 41825636 
Fax +91 11 41825637
newdelhi(at)prohelvetia.in


Head of Pro Helvetia 
New Delhi
Chandrika Grover Ralleigh
cgrover(at)prohelvetia.in

Communication
Sangeeta Rana
srana(at)prohelvetia.in

Projects
Pooja Varma
pvarma(at)prohelvetia.in

Projects
Chandrima Nandi
cnandi(at)prohelvetia.in


Opening hours: 
Monday through Friday 1000hrs – 1800hrs

Piano recital by Swiss pianist Gilles Vonsattel

Winner of the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation's 2002 International Piano Competition and the 2008 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Gilles Vonsattel to tour Bangalore, Delhi and Pune.
Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council presents a piano recital by the Swiss pianist   Gilles Vonsattel   

Bangalore Alliance Française de Bangalore on Sunday 20 September 2009 at 7:00 pm in collaboration with Bangalore School of Music    

Delhi India International Centre on Tuesday 22 September 2009 at 6:30 pm in collaboration with India International Centre and Delhi Music Society
Pune Mazda Hall, Dastur Primary School on Friday 25 September 2009 at 7:00 pm in collaboration with Poona Music Society      

ProgrammeJ. S. Bach: 3 Countrapuncti  L. van Beethoven: Bagatelles Op. 126 L. van Beethoven: Sonate Op. 110 Intermission   F. Liszt: Les Jeux d'Eau à la Villa d'Este A. Honegger: Hommage à Ravel (Swiss work) M. Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit      

About Gilles Vonsattel

Winner of the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation's 2002 International Piano Competition and the 2008 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Swiss-born American pianist Gilles Vonsattel is an artist of uncommon breadth. With repertoire that ranges from Bach's Art of the Fugue to Xenakis, Vonsattel displays a musical curiosity and sense of adventure has gained him many admirers around the world.   Vonsattel began touring after winning the prestigious 2002 Naumburg International Piano Competition. He made his Alice Tully Hall debut that same year and has since performed with the Warsaw Philharmonic, at Zürich's Tonhalle, Warsaw's Chopin Festival, and Tokyo's Opera City Hall; and in the U.S. with the Utah, Santa Fe, Nashville, and Grand Rapids symphonies, and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Vonsattel is also a member of the Lincoln Centre’s prestigious Chamber Music Society Two with whom he performs extensively both at Lincoln Centre and on tour.   

Vonsattel regularly participates in New York's Wordless Music Series and was featured in the spring 2008 issue of Esquire magazine as one of several groundbreaking classical musicians.  He continues to be deeply involved in classical music outreach in the United States, giving master classes at universities and schools.    

Jumpstart workshops 2009 – 2010

As part of the Jumpstart series of workshops, the German Book Office in India has invited Swiss illustrator Pierre Thomé to participate in the Illustrating Children’s Books Master Class.

As part of the Jumpstart series of workshops organised by the German Book Office in India, Swiss illustrator Pierre Thomé, has been invited to participate in the Illustrating Children’s Books Master Class to be organised at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Pierre Thomé will conduct a workshop exclusively for students of the NID on 4 – 5 September.  

 

Pierre Thomé will also make a presentation to a select audience of Indian illustrators at the Delhi Book Fair on 2 September together with two other illustrators from Norway and India. The presentation will be followed by portfolio assessments where the three experts will give their feedback on portfolios presented by the participating Indian illustrators.

 

This initiative of the German Book Office has been supported by Pro Helvetia New Delhi.