Launching the 7th volume of the La Francophonie in Asia-Pacific

The launch ceremony witnessed the participation of representatives from embassies, international organizations, universities, research institutes, training organizations, and IFI's international partners. The FAP Editorial Board welcomed Mr. Ngô Tự Lập, former Director of IFI and Editor-in-Chief; Professor Flicker Corinne from Aix-Marseille University (France), Deputy Editor-in-Chief; Ms. Trần Thị Quyên, Secretary; Ms. Natasha Kraevskaya and Ms. Iola Lenzi, Scientific Directors; and Ms. Nguyễn Thị Hiệp, FAP Representative in Europe.

In his opening address, Mr. Ngô Tự Lập expressed gratitude to the FAP Editorial Board, sponsors, the University of Provence PUP (France), and Hanoi National University Press for creating an outstanding and high-quality scientific product. He highlighted FAP's significant contributions to the French-speaking community in Asia-Pacific over the past 6 years, covering various topics such as literature, architecture, cinema, higher education, environment, and sustainable development. Mr. Ngô Tự Lập expressed hope that the 7th issue of FAP, themed "French-Asian-Pacific Art Dialogue: Intersections in Modern and Contemporary Art," along with the exhibition by HironPhoenix, would create exciting encounters between Eastern and Western art.

Mr. Arnaud Pannier, Educational Cooperation Attaché at the French Embassy in Vietnam, praised FAP's contributions to the French-speaking scientific community in Asia-Pacific. He considered the launch ceremony a milestone in the development of FAP as a high-quality, unique French-language scientific project in the region. Mr. Pannier affirmed that the French Embassy would continue to accompany and support IFI in building and developing FAP, contributing to the advancement of academic cooperation among French-speaking countries in the region and globally.

Professor Corinne Flicker from Aix-Marseille University (France), Deputy Editor-in-Chief of FAP, emphasized the importance of FAP as a significant scientific product. She highlighted that, in the current context, the French language has become a symbol of diversity, cooperation, and sharing. FAP is considered the "brightest icon of French-language academic cooperation," as declared by Jean Paul de Gaudemar, former Director-General of the Francophone University Agency (AUF), during his visit to Aix-Marseille University in 2018.

The program continued with an introduction to the 7th issue of FAP by Scientific Director Natasha Kraevskaya. According to her, modern and contemporary art in Asia began to emerge in the late 19th century, influenced by France. In contrast to many studies focusing on the impact of Western culture on Asia-Pacific, the FAP Editorial Board aims to provide a broader, multidimensional analysis of the art formation process in this region. Therefore, the latest issue of FAP will delve into East-West dialogues and identify common perspectives on modern and contemporary art from both regions.

During the launch event, guests had the opportunity to explore the digital exhibition space featuring the works of the young artist HironPhoenix. With extensive knowledge and experience in painting in Europe and Vietnam, the French-Vietnamese artist showcased unique techniques such as lacquer painting, incorporating diverse materials from eggshells and ebony to gold, silver, and tin. Additionally, beyond traditional painting, the artist also created digital art pieces with the same delicacy and detail as traditional oil paintings.

The launch ceremony marked six successful years of FAP, reflecting the growth of IFI on the path to becoming an international, interdisciplinary research center for the French-speaking community in Asia-Pacific and worldwide.

Upcoming issues of FAP are expected to focus on topics such as colonialism and post-colonialism in French-speaking countries in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as economic cycles and cooperation opportunities in the French-speaking space. More information can be found [here]

Some images from the event: