Peabo Bryson Live to be Held in Genting

16 May 2015, Arena of Stars

GENTING HIGHLANDS, Malaysia, April 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Get ready for a sensational time with the popular singer-songwriter, producer and composer Peabo Bryson at Resorts World Genting this May! Peabo is set to entertain his fans for a one-night only performance at Arena of Stars, on 16 May 2015 (Saturday), 8:30pm onwards.

Peabo Bryson

Peabo Bryson

Peabo Bryson is well known for singing soft-rock ballads and often duet with female singers, namely “What You Won’t Do For Love” with Natalie Cole and Roberta Flack “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” which are some of his famous hits that labeled him as “King of the balladeers” in the 80’s.

His contribution to several Disney animated feature soundtracks such as “Beauty and the Beast” from Beauty and the Beast, with Celine Dion and “A Whole New World” from Aladdin, with Regina Belle, not only made him famous across the globe, but also won him the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performer in 1992 and 1993.

Purchase your tickets now for a great performance by the “King of the balladeers”. Tickets are priced at RM 318 (VVIP), RM 248 (VIP), RM 188 (PS1), RM 148 (PS2) and RM 100 (PS3). A 10% discount will be extended to all Genting Rewards Members, applicable to all price scales. Be a Genting Rewards member now and enjoy exclusive discounts on our shows. Registration is easy and it’s FREE!

For more information, please call 03-2718 1118 or visit www.rwgenting.com.

If you have any queries or in need of further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the following persons; –

* The below names are for editorial enquiries only and not to be published.

Michelle Wong, Media Relations Assistant Manager

603 – 6105 9508

Eng Lee See, Senior Media Relations Executive

603 – 6105 9607

Nur Darwisyah, Media Relations Executive

603 – 2333 6679

Marcus Mok, Media Relations Executive

603 – 6105 9608

Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150403/8521502135

Japanese Culinary Academy Invites Professional Chefs from Around Globe for Cooking Competition

KYOTO, Japan, March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The Japanese Culinary Academy, a nonprofit organization in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, has been inviting professional chefs of Japanese cuisine at home and abroad to participate in the fifth Japan Culinary Art Competition (http://culinary-academy.jp/english ).

The competition is aimed at spreading Japanese cooking and gastronomical culture around the world, establishing global standards for Japanese cuisine and fostering chefs of Japanese cuisine around the globe.

The number of applicants for the competition has also been on the rise thanks to the growing popularity of Japanese cuisine, totaling 201 chefs in the fourth competition from August 2013 to February 2014.

This year’s competition, to be held under the theme of “Imagination! Opening up New Japanese Cuisine,” features two aspects of traditional local cuisine – menu creation and cooking.

With application closing on May 31, regional qualifying rounds will be held at six locations in Japan and one in Seoul, South Korea, before the Kyoto Finals in February 2016.

Since its establishment in August 2004, the Japanese Culinary Academy (JCA) has fostered, inherited and develop Japanese cuisine at home and abroad in a bid to promote “global understanding of Japanese cuisine” and contribute to “the next generation of Japanese food chefs.” The JCA will continue to foster, inherit and develop Japanese gastronomical culture, which is recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

A statement by Yoshihiro Murata, JCA chairman and the owner and chef of Kikunoi, a famed kaiseki restaurant.

Although Japanese cuisine is registered as an intangible cultural heritage, it is in fact in a crisis situation. As a business, Japanese cuisine is still difficult to enter and young chefs shun Japanese cuisine due to a lengthy apprenticeship. The Japanese Culinary Academy has decided to organize the fifth Japanese Culinary Art Competition, believing it is our important mission to foster Japanese chefs and cooks. We strongly urge many Japanese chefs to enter the competition.

About The Japanese Culinary Academy

Name:

Nonprofit Organization Japanese Culinary Academy

Location:

1F/KCCI Bldg., 240 Shoshoi-cho, Karasuma Ebisugawa, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto 604-0862, Japan

Establishment:

August 2004 (Incorporated as NGO in April 2007)

Chairman:

Yoshihiro Murata

Advisors:

Governor of Kyoto Prefecture, Mayor of Kyoto City, and Eiichi Takahashi

Contact:
Terumi Ohyagi
Secretariat
Nonprofit Organization Japanese Culinary Academy
Tel: +81-75-241-4163
E-mail: office@culinary-academy.jp
*Please send inquiries by e-mail.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/japanese-culinary-academy-invites-professional-chefs-from-around-globe-for-cooking-competition-300058250.html

28 Chinese: Exhibition explodes narrow perspectives of contemporary art in China

SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — This June, visitors to the Asian Art Museum will get a snapshot of some of China’s most exciting artists from the country’s booming contemporary art scene. The museum’s special summer exhibition 28 Chinese offers glimpses of contemporary Chinese art through a group of 28 artists, ranging from those in the spotlight like Liu Wei, He Xiangyu, Huang Yong Ping and Xu Zhen to the internationally acclaimed Zhang Huan and Ai Weiwei. These artists have made a significant impact on the art world and expanded definitions of contemporary art in China. On view June 5 through Aug. 16 at the Asian Art Museum, the exhibition features 48 artworks, revealing powerful responses to China today, as well as perspectives and attitudes towards tradition.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150330/195295

28 Chinese is the culmination of more than a decade’s worth of exploration and research by art collectors Don and Mera Rubell. Between 2001 and 2012, the Rubells conducted six research trips to China, where they visited 100 artists’ studios in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Xi’an. The Rubells acquired artworks from 28 artists in a multiplicity of mediums, from painting and installation to photography and new media. Organized by guest curator Allison Harding, the Asian Art Museum’s presentation will be the first exhibition on the West Coast for many of these artists.

While artworks in 28 Chinese are only a sample of all that Chinese contemporary art has to offer, they represent a few of the most notable Chinese artists working today, as identified by two preeminent art collectors. A highlight of the exhibition is Zhu Jinshi’s monumental installation, Boat, which is 12 meters long, made from 8,000 sheets of paper commonly used in Chinese calligraphy and painting. Visitors will notice row upon row of carefully stacked paper overlapping bamboo rods suspended from the ceiling with cotton thread. Another highlight is a large scale painting by Li Shurui from her Light series—works that reproduce the look and feel of light in different environments, from arctic landscapes to nightclubs. The exhibition also features Ai Weiwei’s Table with Two Legs (2008), Xu Zhen’s embroidered canvases, He Xiangyu’s installation Cola Project (2009–2010), Qiu Zhijie’s Tattoo-2, (2000) and a screening room featuring a wide range of new video works, including Huang Ran’s Blithe Tragedy (2011) and Fang Lu’s Lovers Are Artists (Part One) (2012).

Following the Asian Art Museum’s presentation of 28 Chinese, the exhibition will travel to the San Antonio Museum of Art (Sept. 5, 2015–Jan. 4, 2016). The exhibition premiered in Miami at the Rubell Family Collection on Dec. 4, 2013 and was on view through Aug. 1, 2014.

Over the past 15 years, the Asian Art Museum has made a concentrated effort to include contemporary art in its exhibition programs and acquisition pursuits. On Sept. 4 the museum will present First Look: Collecting Contemporary at the Asian, an original exhibition showcasing contemporary art in the museum’s collection.

28 Chinese is organized by the Rubell Family Collection, Miami. Presentation at the Asian Art Museum is made possible with the generous support of China Art Foundation, Gorretti and Lawrence Lui, Silicon Valley Bank, The Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Fund for Excellence in Exhibitions and Presentations, Lucy Sun and Warren Felson, and Nordstrom.

For more information visit: www.asianart.org.

PRESS CONTACTS:
Tim Hallman |
+1.415.581.3711
pr@asianart.org

Annie Tsang
+1.415.581.3560
annietsang@asianart.org

Tarena International, Inc. Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Adobe

BEIJING, March 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) (“Tarena” or the “Company”), a leading provider of professional education services in China, today announced that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Adobe Creative University (“Adobe”), the global leader in digital marketing and digital media solutions, and is now an authorized Adobe training and certification partner in China of Adobe Creative University.

Through the partnership with Adobe, Tarena will continue to refine and optimize its digital art course. Pursuant to the partnership agreement, Adobe will provide Tarena with standardized learning materials, whereas Tarena will launch Adobe certification programs at Tarena’s existing learning centers to improve teaching quality in digital art education.

“As the demand for digital art designing talent intensifies across numerous industries and fields, we endeavor to increase our efforts of training more digital designers in China,” said Shaoyun Han, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Tarena. “Through our strategic partnership with Adobe, Tarena students can receive world class digital art training and earn the official validation from the industry leader to help achieve their career aspirations.”

“Tarena is a leading professional education services provider in China with high quality education and respected brand in the industry,” said Ng Yew Hwee, Managing Director of Adobe Greater China. “Given Tarena’s large student enrollment, national network of learning centers and elite instructor team, we hope to further promote Adobe in China and train more world class digital designers together with Tarena through our partnership.”

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the “safe harbor” provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Tarena may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including the statements about Tarena’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Many factors, risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: Tarena’s goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract students to enroll in its courses; its ability to continue to recruit, train and retain qualified instructors and teaching assistants; its ability to continually tailor its curriculum to market demand and enhance its courses to adequately and promptly respond to developments in the professional job market; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand recognition, its ability to maintain high job placement rate for its students, and its ability to maintain cooperative relationships with financing service providers for student loans. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Tarena’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Tarena does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Tarena International, Inc.

Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) is a leading provider of professional education services in China. Through its innovative education platform combining live distance instruction, classroom-based tutoring and online learning modules, Tarena offers courses in nine IT subjects and three non-IT subjects. Its courses provide students with practical education to prepare them for jobs in industries with significant growth potential and strong hiring demand. Since its inception in 2002, Tarena has trained over 188,000 students, cooperated with more than 550 universities and colleges and placed students with approximately 50,000 corporate employers in a variety of industries. For further information, please visit http://ir.tarena.com.cn.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Tarena International, Inc.
Christina Zhu
Tel: +86-10-6211-4840 ext. 8155
Email: ir@tarena.com.cn

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tarena-international-inc-signs-strategic-partnership-agreement-with-adobe-300054993.html

Vivid Sydney 2015: Biggest Ever Program Announced

Expansion into city suburbs Chatswood and Central Park

Over 60 Lighting Installations and Projections

Expanded Music Program and Australian exclusives including The Hoodoo Gurus and Daniel Johns

Award-winning, Australian-first global speakers at Vivid Ideas

SYDNEY, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Vivid Sydney is set to shine even more brightly in 2015 when the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas delivers its biggest program yet. For 18 nights, from 22 May — 8 June, Vivid Sydney will again transform the city and harbour. The 2015 program includes expansion into new city precincts Chatswood and Central Park, its biggest ever music program including Australian exclusives such as The Hoodoo Gurus at the Powerhouse Museum and Daniel Johns’ international solo debut at the Sydney Opera House, and heavy-hitting speakers at Vivid Ideas.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/182874
Photo –
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/182873

Vivid Sydney, now in its seventh year, is owned and managed by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said: “Vivid Sydney is an incredible public event that has seen amazing growth, attracting a record 1.43 million attendees in 2014. It’s the largest festival of its kind in the world, and with our biggest program yet, there’s even more to love about Vivid Sydney this year.

“While the heart of Vivid Light is still beating strongly in and around Circular Quay, Vivid Sydney is spreading even further into the city suburbs, with Central Park and Chatswood joining the program this year,” Ms. Chipchase said.

“Favourite locations Circular Quay, Walsh Bay, Martin Place, and Darling Harbour are back with over 60 light installations and projections with even more opportunity for visitors to get hands on, more water theatre shows – this time with lasers and fire – and new and expanded programing at Pyrmont & The Star and the University of Sydney. The sandstone canvases of Customs House and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) will also return with spectacular new 3D projections.

“With all eyes on the Sydney Opera House, Lighting of the Sails will once again take its place as the centrepiece of the amazing light spectacular during Vivid Sydney, with Universal Everything promising awe-inspiring projections that will reimagine the architecture as a living mural, with a diverse series of vibrant, hand-drawn sequences.

Vivid Music will introduce its most expansive program yet, featuring more shows and venues and an impressive line-up of local and international talent,” she said.

The Hoodoo Gurus will perform an exclusive one-off show at the Powerhouse Museum and a new line up of cutting edge, innovative performances will be held across the city at new venues Goodgod Small Club, Oxford Art Factory and Freda’s, with the Seymour Centre, The Basement, The Argyle and Barrio Cellar part of the line-up again in 2015.

Part of the Vivid Music program, Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House features a 10-night run of exclusive Sydney-only performances and for the first time will also include two large scale outdoor events, internal light projections and an event for kids and families. Features include four exclusive performances from Morrissey, Daniel Johns in his international solo debut, Sufjan Stevens in his only Australian performances and FCX — 10 Years of Future Classics featuring Flume and Flight Facilities.

With a line-up of heavy-hitting speakers, Vivid Ideas introduces The Game Changers, a new talk series this year headlined by three global influencers: multi Emmy-winning writer Matthew Weiner, series creator and executive producer of Mad Men and former executive producer and writer on The Sopranos; Grammy-winning designer Stefan Sagmeister, whose clients include the Rolling Stones, Lou Reed and the Guggenheim Museum; and entrepreneur and publisher Tyler Brule, founder of the world-famous magazines Wallpaper and Monocle.

“With such an amazing festival planned, Destination NSW will continue to work with the travel industry to encourage visitation to Sydney from across Australia and the globe for this incredible event. We aim to build on the results from last year when more than 20,000 international visitors travelled to Sydney on dedicated Vivid Sydney travel packages,” Ms. Chipchase said.

Vivid Sydney will also work with event partners, land owners and a new accessibility specialist to build on the positive initiatives undertaken last year.

“A new sustainability partnership with The Banksia Foundation will also further develop Vivid Sydney’s sustainability agenda which includes recycling assets, environmental waste management practises and improved energy efficiency,” she said.

Vivid Sydney welcomes the return of Intel, a world-leader in computing technology, as event partner for the fifth consecutive year. 2015 Supporters include Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, City of Sydney, Sydney Opera house, The Star, Canon, Indeed, 32 Hundred Lighting, Oracle and TDC.

Some of the highlights of Vivid Sydney 2015 program:

Where

What

When

Sydney Opera House

Design collective Universal Everything will be Lighting the Sails with spectacular projections.

Nightly from 6pm

Customs House

Enchanted Sydney by Spinifex, a continually evolving and blossoming world with free-flowing images of Sydney’s flora and fauna.

Nightly from 6pm

MCA (sandstone original building)

Mechanised Colour Assemblage by Danny Rose and Rebecca Baumann transforms the MCA into a series of sound and colour machines.

Nightly from 6pm

Sydney Harbour, Circular Quay, The Rocks and Walsh Bay

Harbour Lights returns with boats lit up, floating on the Harbour in a symphony of colour, Paint the Town allows visitors to illuminate the city’s skyscrapers, plus more than 60 light installations adorn the harbour foreshore.

Nightly from 6pm

Martin Place

The daytime centre of the city is illuminated at night with installations including Transcendence, an impressive towering structure featuring mesmerising projection mapping, code-driven light shows and divine fare from Sydney’s hippest purveyors of food and beverage.

Nightly from 6pm

Darling Harbour

Vivid Laser-Fountain Water Theatre presented by Oracle-Liquid is a choreographed audio visual symphony featuring fountain jets and spirals, colour lighting, rainbow lasers and dancing flames.

Nightly from 6pm

Central Park

STREETS AHEAD featuring projections from contemporary artists Reko Rennie and Beastman onto the heritage Carlton & United Brewery façade, plus Silent Discos every Friday and Saturday.

Nightly from 6pm

University of Sydney

Vivid Path to the Future, a week long program of light, music and ideas with spectacular 3D mapped projections and a light walk.

25 – 31 May

Pyrmont & The Star

Vivid Sydney Game Zone, a buzzing multisensory entertainment precinct with interactive installations at Pyrmont Bay Park and Sky Terrace at The Star.

Nightly from 6pm

Chatswood

Aquatic Wonderland, a mesmerising water world featuring giant sea creatures and an animated aquarium, culminating in a beautifully-illustrated 3D animation set over the façade of The Concourse.

Nightly from 6pm to 11pm.

Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House

Morrissey, Daniel Johns, Sufjan Stevens and FCX – 10 Years of Future Classic featuring Flume and Flight Facilities.

22 May to 8 June

Vivid Music

Hoodoo Gurus at Powerhouse Museum, Modulations at Carriageworks, the Seymour Centre and new venues Oxford Art Factory, Freda’s and Goodgod Small Club.

22 May to 8 June

Vivid Ideas

The Game Changers talk series with Matthew Weiner, Stefan Sagmeister and Tyler Brûlé, plus the Vivid Ideas Exchange sessions at the MCA.

22 May to 8 June

Travel packages to be announced. For more information on Vivid Sydney visit www.vividsydney.com.

The full Vivid Sydney media kit, broadcast quality footage and high-res imagery including 2015 Vivid Sydney light renders and footage of 2014 festival highlights is available at www.vividsydney.com/media-centre.

NOTES TO EDITORS – Further background on Vivid Sydney

VIVID LIGHT

From 6pm to midnight each evening, Vivid Sydney will transform the city and surrounds into a night time playground for small and big kids alike. Vivid Light Walk installations follow a playful theme with illuminated swings, a grand scale Duck Duck Goose game, musical stacking dice and Vivid’s largest multi-player experience, INTER/Play at Cadmans Cottage.

There’s also no shortage of big and small creations and visitors can expect a human brain, graceful dresses, an enormous Rococo pig, curious monsters and a giant crochet dolly who just wants a hug.

New, interactive installations and projections will see many create their own art and this year for the first time, visitors will literally be able to Paint The Town! as they colour the city’s skyline over Circular Quay with state of the art lasers controlled by interactive touch screens, setting the stage for collaborative design or lighting battles.

VIVID MUSIC

Music at Vivid Sydney will continue to pulse through the city and sound a new vibe, showcasing local and international talent at more venues than ever before, taking Vivid Music to a wider audience.

ARIA Hall of Fame legends, the Hoodoo Gurus will perform a Sydney exclusive one-off show at the Powerhouse Museum, Be My Guru: Evolution, Revolution. Founding Guru Dave Faulkner will be joined on stage by all members of the band, as the Guru’s evolve from their 1980s beginnings to now, backed by Hoodoo Guru memorabilia from the Powerhouse collection.

Modulations at Carriageworks returns featuring performances from Grammy Award-winning American jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, and Bill Drummond, co-founder of late 1980s avant-garde pop group The KLF.

One-off events that simply can’t be missed include Soul of Sydney, the city’s best Soul Train party experience, Heaps Gay presented by FBi Radio at the Factory Theatre and Toby’s Cosy Nook, an evening of sophisticated and eclectic music, art and cabaret.

Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House is part of Vivid Music.

VIVID IDEAS

Asia Pacific’s annual celebration of innovation, creativity and community, Vivid Ideas is all about turning inspiration into action and there’s plenty about the 2015 program to inspire with events at more than 30 venues across the city.

Creative conferences and public events will activate venues across the city, spanning the creative sector including STREETS AHEAD, showcasing the contemporary street art movement and the reach of this global trend, The Sunrise: The Silicon Valley Myth Explained bringing together Australia’s biggest technology success stories to explore the key factors needed to create a Silicon Valley right here in the Southern Hemisphere, and Game | ON a three-day event diving into the world of games, e-sports and online video content.

The Vivid Ideas Exchange also returns with over 60 sessions presented by industry experts across the creative sector, from architecture to augmented reality, marketing to media.

FAST FACTS FROM VIVID SYDNEY 2014

  • Over 1.43 million attendees
  • Injected $41.3 million into the NSW visitor economy
  • Almost 90,000 people from outside Sydney, including almost 30,000 visitors from overseas came to experience Vivid Sydney. Of these 30,000 international visitors, more than 20,000 purchased Vivid Sydney travel packages, including over 9,700 visitors from China
  • Named Australia’s Best Tourism Event In 2014 (and Australian Event of the Year in 2013) and Helpmann Awards Best Special Event in 2014
  • Media coverage in more than 190 countries and territories
  • More than 37,000 tickets sold for Vivid LIVE
  • More than 34,000 people attended Vivid IDEAS
  • More than 15,000 tickets sold for Vivid Music
  • Average Vivid Sydney Facebook reach – 2.8 million people a day (3.49 million on Vivid Sydney launch day on May 23)
  • 873,995 likes on the Vivid Sydney Facebook page
  • More than 1,600,000 visitors to vividsydney.com
  • 60,559 downloads of the Vivid Sydney app and VividSnap
  • More than 95,000 images tagged with #vividsydney on Instagram.

The Auspicious Light — Painting by Chinese Artist Nan Haiyan

BEIJING, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Tian Jingang, spokesman for artist Nan Haiyan, gave a speech at Yinghua Pavilion (“Ying Hua Ge“) in Beijing Asian Games Village where he explained that the artwork on display, a piece by Mr. Nan, portrays a scene where a young Tibetan couple is toasting their guests. The scripture and the Buddha in the upper part of the painting represent the artist’s subjective metaphorical expression and are a manifestation of the happy life of Tibetan people in the auspicious light.

Nan’s work is replete with rich language and refined composition, and his inspiration mostly comes from his observations of daily life, leading to a dialogue between art and life as well as to the connection between emotion and creation.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150317/182378

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-auspicious-light—-painting-by-chinese-artist-nan-haiyan-300052276.html

A Tibetan Winter Morning as Seen Through the Eyes of Chinese Artist Nan Haiyan

BEIJING, March 17, 2015 /PR Newswire/ — Jingang Tian, spokesman for artist Nan Haiyan gave a speech at the cinema club on the grounds of the Beijing Asian Games Village on March 16, 2015.

Tian said “Tibetans, one of China’s 56 nationalities, have an important presence in Tibet Autonomous Region and the neighboring provinces. The beliefs and culture of the nationality are an indispensable part of human civilization.”

With dozens of artistic works created in the Tibetan areas of China that capture wonderful moments in the lives of Tibetan people with his painting brush, Nan Haiyan seeks to express the simplicity and kindness of the Tibetan people. The rich colors of his paintings add a sense of dignity and solemnity to the beliefs and traditions of the nationality. This piece of work depicts a peaceful winter morning scene in a day of the life of the Tibetan people as seen through in the eyes of the artist.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150211/174871

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-tibetan-winter-morning-as-seen-through-the-eyes-of-chinese-artist-nan-haiyan-300034737.html

Pepsi(R) Challenges Darkness to Bring Light to Communities in Need with the Pepsi x Liter of Light “Ignite The Light” Tour

— First Global Challenge & Tour Stop Features Art Installation By World-Renowned Fashion Designer & Creative Director Nicola Formichetti in Hong Kong

PURCHASE, N.Y., March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — #PEPSICHALLENGE — Pepsi® today challenges people worldwide to shine a light on those who live in darkness. As the first global initiative in its 2015 Pepsi® Challenge™ program, the iconic brand announces the Pepsi x Liter of Light “Ignite the Light” Tour — an international journey of creative, large-scale, mixed media art installations created by artists from around the world who will bring attention to communities that lack electricity and basic lighting solutions.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150315/181840  

In partnership with the Liter of Light organization and world-renowned fashion designer, creative director and fashion editor widely known for collaborations with Diesel and Lady Gaga, Nicola Formichetti, Pepsi reveals the first “Ignite the Light” installation in Hong Kong. Unveiled on March 15th and open to the public for a limited time at the PMQ Courtyard, Formichetti’s piece titled “Ao Dress” is a physical example of the symbiotic relationship between light and material.

“It’s important that the fashion and art industries work hand in hand and help each other, as each world now collides. I’m very much inspired by the art world mixing with my fashion angle, so it’s exciting to be able to have a hand in both through the Pepsi x Liter of Light ‘Ignite the Light’ Tour,” said Formichetti. “For my piece, ‘Ao Dress,’ I was inspired by Mother Nature — the embodiment of renewal, birth and the light of infinite possibility. What could be better than repurposing Pepsi bottles into something that helps people who go without the most basic of human needs, such as electricity and light. Pepsi is literally helping bring people out of the darkness and into the light, and that is something I can stand behind with conviction.”

“Ao Dress” is an out-of-this-world gown with body architecture crafted from light and Pepsi bottles. Inspired by “Ao” the Goddess of Light, the truly alchemistical fashion spectacle observes the beautiful nature of the liquid diffused glow of Liter of Light solar lights and creates a futuristic silhouette that stands as a celebration of the project. Formichetti’s team collaborated with fashion and technology company Studio XO and production company Prettybird to bring his vision to life.

“Through the ‘Ignite the Light’ Tour with Liter of Light, we’re infusing the fun and excitement of the Pepsi Challenge with a focused purpose — helping our consumers around the world achieve their desire to make an impact,” said Kristin Patrick, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Global Beverage Brands. “Our work with Liter of Light is the connective tissue throughout the Pepsi Challenge program and we’re challenging ourselves, our artist partners and our consumers to draw attention to this vital need. To act and to make a real difference.”

Pepsi Challenge is a call to today’s generations to live life to the fullest and make every moment–big or small–epic. Throughout 2015, Pepsi Challenge unleashes a variety of global and local challenges designed to galvanize consumers to push themselves farther, dream a little bigger and “Live for Now.” Challenges will be issued on Pepsi social channels, PepsiChallenge.com and via global and local ambassadors.

Underpinning and uniting each and every #PepsiChallenge is a way for people around the world to make an impact. Through the partnership with Liter of Light, Pepsi will bring cost effective solar lighting solutions to communities in need while recycling plastic bottles. Every time consumers around the world use the #PepsiChallenge hash tag on public Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube profiles, Pepsi will donate $1 to Liter of Light to help bring environmentally-friendly, inexpensive and easy to make lights to those around the world who need it most.

To date, Liter of Light has provided ecologically-sustainable lighting solutions, including nighttime lighting solutions and public lighting such as street lights, to more than 18 countries including Brazil, India, Kenya, Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Egypt, Pakistan and the Philippines. Using empty recycled plastic bottles, water and chlorine, Liter of Light creates innovative “bottle lights” — a 55-watt solar bulb, with zero carbon emissions, that refracts sunlight and is powerful enough to light up a home.

“Light is not only a great need, but also a great inspiration, for so many,” said Illac Diaz, Liter of Light Founder. “The Pepsi Challenge program and its ‘Ignite the Light’ global challenge sheds light on our great mission in inspiring, beautiful and visually stunning ways — both physically with the artistic light installations around the world, as well as the great impact and movement made through our partnership with Pepsi.”

As a global ambassador for the Pepsi Challenge, Formichetti has challenged select artists around the world to take his lit torch and create the next “Ignite the Light” installation. Up to five “Ignite the Light” installations will be unveiled throughout the year around the world. Visit www.PepsiChallenge.com for more information.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2014, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth in shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Lanson Place Hotel Hong Kong Celebrates its 10th Anniversary with World Tour Art Exhibition

“Ink-Brush-Heart – The La Biennale di Venezia World Tour” by Simon Ma

HONG KONG, March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Lanson Place Hotel, Hong Kong is a luxury boutique hotel located in Causeway Bay.  Since its opening in 2005, this hotel has won numerous international design and service awards.

Allan Zeman, Simon Ma (artist), Jonathan Zeman, Ian Brewis (General Manager of Lanson Place Hotel, Hong Kong), Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Alex Fong attended the opening reception of “Ink-Brush-Heart - The La Biennale di Venezia World Tour" by Simon Ma

Allan Zeman, Simon Ma (artist), Jonathan Zeman, Ian Brewis (General Manager of Lanson Place Hotel, Hong Kong), Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Alex Fong attended the opening reception of “Ink-Brush-Heart – The La Biennale di Venezia World Tour” by Simon Ma

As part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, Lanson Place Hotel is hosting “InkBrushHeart – The La Biennale di Venezia World Tour Art Exhibition by SIMON MA, Hong Kong,” from March 12 to 25.

Inspired by the beauty of nature, the artist ventured various materials, forms and means, created a total of ten interactive art installations to convey the message of treasuring water.

“We are very excited to have celebrities and art fans joining our opening reception of this  Exhibition.  Lanson Place Hotel, Hong Kong has been a frequent supporter of local art and culture events. There will be more interesting events later this year when we celebrate our 10th Anniversary, said Ian Brewis, General Manager of Lanson Place Hotel, Hong Kong.

Simon Ma said, “I am very thrilled to collaborate with Lanson Place on the Art Exhibition.  My signature collection Dancing Water Drops demonstrates the serene beauty between humans and all creatures, a call to treasure water and love nature, and this work fits so perfectly in the serene and elegant setting at Lanson Place.”

Before coming back to Hong Kong, this Art Exhibition has also taken place in Venezia, Milan, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Ningbo and Hangzhou. Hong Kong will be the last stop of this World Tour Art Exhibition.

About Lanson Place Hotel, Hong Kong

Lanson Place Hotel, Hong Kong combines elegance, style and convenience in equal measure. The boutique hotel is tucked discreetly in Hong Kong’s thriving Causeway Bay entertainment and shopping hub. Its 194 rooms and penthouse suites, each with a kitchenette, demonstrate refined luxury accommodation along with the exclusivity and comfort of a private home. As the first member of “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” in Hong Kong, the hotel has been delighting guests with award-winning service and comprehensive facilities in the heart of the city for over a decade.

About Simon Ma

Born in Hong Kong, Simon Ma started learning the art of traditional Chinese painting under Master Fan Tzu Teng at the age of 7. He then began his serious encounter with music, art and design while majoring in Architecture & Urban Planning at UCL – Bartlett School of Architecture, London. In 1997, Simon headed for Shanghai and subsequently founded his own company, M.HOUSE, five years later.  Besides being appointed in 2012 as the Sino-Italian Cultural Ambassador, Simon is also an awardee of “2014 Ten Outstanding Young Persons” in Hong Kong and the Cultural ambassador of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150313/8521501605