French Spring Festival gets young and breezy this year
Popular, free, young, modern and innovative,” is how Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka Jean-Marin Schuh, explains the theme for French Spring Festival 2017 presented by the French Embassy in collaboration with the Alliance Française de Kotte in Colombo. The French Spring Festival, an event held by many French embassies worldwide, aims to provide a glimpse of French culture and tradition.
Ambassador Jean Marin Schuh. Pic by M.D. Nissanka
It’s a month-long cultural fest this year, as the 6th edition of the French Spring Festival in Sri Lanka will begin on June 14 and continue till July 14, encompassing the Fête de la Musique (International Music Day) and Bastille Day (French National Day).
Planned on a bigger scale than previous years, the festival will highlight aspects of French visual arts (photography and street art), music, literature, fashion and tourism. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Ambassador Schuh explained that the theme for this year’s festivities is the youth. “We are willing to show a modern and young aspect of our culture,” he explained, adding that they have made every effort to ensure that a wide audience can experience most of the events which will have free entrance.
Photography
An exhibition by French photographer Marie Caroline Senlis’s photographs taken over ten years, most in black and white will be developed two weeks prior to the exhibition by the photographer herself. “It is mainly on the mystic inspirations (of the photographer),” says Ambassador Schuh.
Street art
French street artist Alber will add colour to three different walls in Colombo and Kandy. Ambassador Schuh explained that street art is an accepted cultural tradition in France and Western Europe which is significantly different from the illegal graffiti associated with the United States. “The idea was to paint walls, because we’ve got what we call ‘des murs aille’ (large walls) in France. So let’s just say there are big walls and no windows at all; the idea was to give life to these walls and to paint perspectives and comics etc.,’ he explained, emphasising that the practice is considered to be a form of beautification of large, dull walls in France.
Music
Several events have been organised for International Music Day with French artists flying down to perform for local audiences. French DJ Sven Love will take part in the event along with singer Charles Baptiste who will perform a pop concert on June 28. The gypsy jazz band “Gala String Quartet” will arrive later on in the festival and perform at the Bastille Day celebrations and also have concerts in Colombo, said Ambassador Schuh. Typically French, Gypsy jazz was born in France in the late 1930s and early 1940s, he said.
Literature
With the growing popularity of e-books French writer Paul Fournel will speak about his book ‘Dear Reader’ (written in English) which is about the link between literature and the digital world. “He will be invited to conduct workshops where he will interact with the public here in Colombo,” explained the Ambassador. The organisers hope that the link between old school art and the new generation will be highlighted through the sessions.
The French guide ‘Le Petit Fute’ which has editions about France and Sri Lanka will be launched in Colombo. The popular guidebook with French and Sri Lankan destinations being highlighted will be explained at the event by an expert on the guide.
“By chance we will have the visit of two ships by our navy who will be in Colombo the week of the 20th of June (in the middle of the festival). These won’t be open to the public but there will be receptions on board, and that’s an important event for us. That will add to the French presence during the month although they are not a part of the festival,” explains Ambassador Schuh. The ships will also collaborate with the Sri Lankan navy in humanitarian work.
The organisers hope that many people will take part in the festival to experience a taste of French culture.
| Events Guide | |
| Photography June 14 – ‘Mystic’ (Invitation only)- exhibition by Marie Caroline Senlis at the French Residence. Street Art June 17 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Amaya Hills and Amaya Bungalow in Kandy June 19 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Alliance Française de Kotte, Colombo 5 June 20 - 11a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sugar Bistro and Wine Bar at ODEL, Colombo 07. Music June 17 – 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.- DJ Sven Love at 41 Sugar in Colombo 7. June 18 – 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. – French Film ‘Eden’ at Alliance Francaise de Kotte, Colombo 05 (based on life of DJ Sven Love). Inspired by the life of the DJ in the 1990s and early 2000s in Paris, the film was made by author Mia Love, the DJ’s sister. June 28 – 9 p.m. to 11 p.m – Pop singer Charles Baptiste at 41 Sugar, Colombo 07 July 4 – 14 – Gala Swing Quartet tour of Sri Lanka For more, see http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170611/ July 14 – Bastille Day – Gypsy Jazz Concert (by invitation only) Literature June 23 – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Literary sessions with Paul Fournel at Alliance Française de Kotte, Colombo 5. Information Technology July 1-10 – 9 a.m. -6 p.m. – French Touch de la Webcreation at the Alliance Francaise de Kotte, Colombo 5. Interactive Exhibition by ‘You!’-an exhibition with video games, digital art etc. Fashion July 6 – International Graduate Fashion Show Spectacle at Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology – Fashion and apparel talk show by students of the Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology (LIFT) July 9 at the Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology – Exhibition and Show Students of the LIFT will exhibit their work during the exhibition. (Tickets available at http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170611/) Tourism July 11 – 6 p.m. Launch of Best of France –Best of Sri Lanka (based on popular French tour guide book ‘Le Petit Fute’) at the Alliance Française de Kotte, Colombo 05 For further details, please visit the social media pages for the French Spring Festival on Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/French-Spring-Festival-359593760764093/ Instagram page http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170611/ Twitter page http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170611/ |