Drawing inspiration through exchange

For the past three months, French artist Roy Kohnke has been pedaling through Beijing's labyrinth of hutong alleyways and various parks on two wheels, turning the ancient capital into both his studio and muse.

With a sketchbook tucked in his backpack and eyes wide open, he has wandered into artist zones, lingered in hushed museum halls, and threaded through crowds at buzzing cultural landmarks, each journey layering fresh inspiration into the artworks he creates.

"It's my first time in China, a country that is so big and different from what I knew. It's very exciting, and there's so much to discover and explore. The capital city gives me endless inspiration," says Kohnke, who is completing an art residency at the Choi Centre Cloud House in Beijing, a cultural center founded by the Jonathan K.S. Choi Foundation.

Based in Paris, Kohnke's practice focuses on sculpture and extends into drawing, text and audio-visual installations. During his residency in Beijing, the 35-year-old has employed laser-cutting technology to engrave and slice paper, producing what he describes as "a mix of sculptures and drawings".

His creative base is the Choi Centre Cloud House, a cultural center on the outskirts of Beijing that blends modern architecture with a classical Chinese garden. There, in his temporary studio, rows of paintings and sketches line the walls, each a direct reflection of the inspiration drawn from his explorations of the city.

"I don't work in the studio all day. I love to build connections, discover new things, and meet people," says the artist.

He recalls spending considerable time securing online tickets to the National Museum of China, where ancient bronze ware and traditional Chinese craftsmanship left a deep impression on him. Particularly struck by the intricate brick carvings in ancient Chinese architecture, he captured several reference photos that now serve as a source of inspiration for his works.

Beyond cultural venues, such as museums and the Forbidden City, he has also developed a keen interest in China's technological and industrial landscape. Eager to explore the manufacturing process behind the materials he uses, the artist plans to visit specialized factories, particularly those producing paper and other raw materials, as well as laser-cutting facilities. For him, understanding the materials' origin and properties is essential to artistic creation.

"Materials play a crucial role in shaping artwork. Even the type of paper I use for a project can transform the form and feel of a piece," Kohnke explains.

Having arrived in Beijing in October, his three-month residency is drawing to a close. Yet, this conclusion is merely a beginning for the artist. "This is just the first step. I prefer to build long-term experiences with the places I visit and work in; it's more interesting than just traveling around."

Kohnke views art as a powerful conduit for communication across cultures, rooted in personal and sensory experiences. "It's about sensations. It's important to work with and express sensations," he adds.

The cross-residency project in which Kohnke is participating is a collaborative initiative between the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and the Choi Centre Cloud House in Beijing. The project originated from French President Emmanuel Macron's 2023 state visit to China, during which he announced the cross-residency project at an important cultural event. Launched last year, the program invites French and Chinese artists to immerse themselves in each other's countries and cultures for creative production.

This year has seen the French artist working in Beijing while Chinese artist Dai Xiyun completed a three-month residency at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. Artists are encouraged to take a deep dive into the foreign environment, gather inspiration, and build durable artistic bonds across borders.

Reflecting on the value of such bilateral exchange, Guillaume Desanges, president of the Palais de Tokyo, says, "Chinese artists coming to the Palais de Tokyo bring us a new vision of the topics we are exploring. In today's globalized world, we all face similar questions, but do not have the same answers. That is what's truly interesting: to encounter different perspectives and different answers, depending on the country and culture one comes from."

Desanges also mentions an interesting observation: When selecting French artists for the residency in China, the institution received an overwhelming number of applications. "I think it's an exciting experience for the artists," he says.

"China and France are geographically and culturally distant, yet we have shared a long historical connection. What stands out today, however, is the palpable sense of curiosity, especially now, as China undergoes rapid transformation, where tradition, modernity and contemporary culture blend in compelling ways, much like they do in France."

In turn, Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, founder of the Jonathan K.S. Choi Foundation, which runs the Choi Centre Cloud House, the driving force behind the art project, says that art is a universal language that doesn't require translation. Through art, "we can truly achieve people-to-people bonds and nurture international friendship via creation and exchange".

Over the past two decades, Choi, who also serves as chairman of the Hong Kong-based conglomerate Sunwah Group, has established more than 10 Choi Centres across the globe, including locations in France, Britain, Vietnam, and Japan, as well as in many domestic cities such as Shenyang, Liaoning province; Kunming, Yunnan province; Shanghai and Chongqing. Each cultural center varies in focus, with some promoting tea culture and others emphasizing traditional Chinese medicine.

According to Choi, this enduring dedication to building cultural bridges stems from a personal legacy: "My wife is a cultural practitioner skilled in music and the arts, so this is something of a family tradition."

Two decades ago, when he established the first Choi Centre in Vietnam to promote Chinese culture, he still recalls facing considerable difficulties and skepticism. Today, however, as interest in Chinese culture continues to grow, many places invite him to open cultural centers.

"Each cultural center has a different focus. We showcase the forms that resonate locally," says Choi.

"I have observed that while investment and trade are important, it is cultural connections that bring people together. That is why I have consistently promoted arts, culture, and traditional Chinese medicine, all of which hold wide international appeal," he adds.

In Beijing, the Choi Centre Cloud House reimagines a traditional siheyuan courtyard as a modern arts venue, blending contemporary exhibitions with the serenity of a classical Chinese garden and traditional architecture. Choi also introduced Chinese tea culture into the center's programming this year, hoping artists-in-residence like Kohnke can immerse themselves in an authentic conventional setting and draw further inspiration. He warmly invites Kohnke to experience other Choi Centres across the nation.

"Our ultimate goal is to enhance mutual understanding and foster international friendship through cultural exchange. It has been an immensely fulfilling journey, and we will continue to innovate and expand our global initiatives," says Choi.