The vision of TCG Nordica: “Stimulating reflection on human worth as expressed in various Art Forms”
TCG Nordica is an international art gallery and culture centre situated in the heart of the artist community at Chuang Ku/LOFT, Kunming. Believing in community empowerment, we facilitate the cultural exchange of indigenous peoples from whatever background and status, and cooperate with a number of artists and organisations to raise the awareness of social issues such as HIV/AIDS. As a crossroads where East and West meets, TCG Nordica desires to facilitate multicultural understanding and exchange. Through art exhibitions, poetry festivals, musical concerts, workshops and unique culture activities, new opportunities are created for people to learn more about themselves and others in the spirit of friendship, openness, respect and mutuality.
TCG Nordica has existed since April 2000. Our Vision is: “Stimulating reflection on Human Worth as expressed in various Art Forms.” It has quickly become one of Kunmings foremost galleries and a popular meeting-point for the city’s residents, particularly artists, intellectuals and students.
The place is frequented, though, by a great variety of people, and this was part of the vision of the founders. A Chinese businesswoman Wu Yue Rong, with great knowledge about and interest for culture, and a Swedish culture worker Anna Mellergård realised that they shared a common dream: To create a place promoting greater knowledge of their respective cultures.
So they did, and now well established artists and celebrities in the cultural sphere find their way to TC/G Nordica. For example the Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer, who constitutes the “T” in the name, visited us in 2001, while his collected poems were translated and published in Chinese. Internationally and nationally acclaimed painter Tang Zhigang had his first solo-exhibition in China in ten years at Nordica the spring of 2005. Equally well-known artist, Professor Mao Xuhui, showed his works here shortly after.
We’ve also been honoured by musicians Maria Solheim and Poing (from Norway), the poet/writer Stig Larsson (Sweden), and Pia Tafdrup (Denmark), and further: Scandinavian artists like Linn Fernström, Anna Stake, Dan Fröberg and Laila Kongevold (Norway) just to mention a few of our prominent guests.\r\n\r\nNordica is situated in a closed down factory area, the Chuang Ku/Loft. Around 30 Chinese artists now have their studios at the Loft, and this contributes to a pulsating, creative atmosphere throughout the block.
Our Restaurant is becoming increasingly popular because of its mixed menue: Scandinavian and Chinese dishes are served in a Northern design and atmosphere. Space, light and a touch of human warmth because of the welcoming attitude of our staff.
TC/G Nordica has a Chinese Volunteer Group, which plays an important role. The volunteers constitute and contribute a to the goals of Nordica, such as culture meeting and understanding.
Among the important activities should also be mentioned our exchange programs, where Chinese artists every year go to Sweden to meet colleagues and study art. Our exchange programs are co-operations with Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium (Norway), The Nordic Watercolor museum (Sweden), Hyllie Park Folkhögskola (Sweden) and others, Scandinavian artists are visiting the place frequently and adding to the richness of what we offer.
Our English Corner generally draws between 50 and 100 young Chinese and Scandinavians who wish to talk and make new friends. The subjects are usually connected to the exhibitions or issues that Nordica feel are vital to our societies – or just the current talk-abouts. For example: “When do you feel like a stranger?”, “How do you celebrate Christmas?”
