31 JULY: artists talk
SONGWEN SUN-VON BERG
(This talk was held in German)
I recently met Songwen in her studio in Kreuzberg. She shared her story of how she came to Germany, got into drawing, and the lengths it took to not only acquire and practice a skill, but also the freedom to be creative and express herself – which we in the Western world often take for granted. Meeting Songwen was inspiring and moving – and prompted the return to the salon format.
Songwen Sun-von Berg was born in Shanghai in 1968. As a highly gifted student, she was allowed to study mechanical engineering during a period when the People's Republic of China invested in training women for mainly male-dominated professions. At the same time, she completed classical Chinese calligraphy and drawing training. In Berlin, from 1995 to 2001, Songwen studied Sinology at Freie Universität Berlin and then began teaching. Simultaneously she privately studied painting and drawing and was a visiting student at Berlin University of the Arts. In 2018 she was nominated for the Losito Art Prize.
I recently met Songwen in her studio in Kreuzberg. She shared her story of how she came to Germany, got into drawing, and the lengths it took to not only acquire and practice a skill, but also the freedom to be creative and express herself – which we in the Western world often take for granted. Meeting Songwen was inspiring and moving – and prompted the return to the salon format.
Songwen Sun-von Berg was born in Shanghai in 1968. As a highly gifted student, she was allowed to study mechanical engineering during a period when the People's Republic of China invested in training women for mainly male-dominated professions. At the same time, she completed classical Chinese calligraphy and drawing training. In Berlin, from 1995 to 2001, Songwen studied Sinology at Freie Universität Berlin and then began teaching. Simultaneously she privately studied painting and drawing and was a visiting student at Berlin University of the Arts. In 2018 she was nominated for the Losito Art Prize.
REBECCAH'S WEDDING STEW
For the first SALON, I served Rebeccah's Chinese Wedding Stew. I learned this fancy beef stew from Shanghai from my friend Gayle in San Francisco. Gayle's mother, Rebeccah, used to cook it for special occasions when she still lived in China. It's so incredibly tasty and unique, that I have been cooking it ever since.
Thank you, Gayle!
Thank you, Gayle!
