There were moments of great clarity, of creative inspiration and transformation.
The 2023–2024 cycle of the Rolex mentoring programme has resulted in two years of extraordinary artistic exchange between five gifted young artists and some of the world’s greatest exponents of their discipline. During this time, an elegant dance of minds and hearts has taken place with mentors passing wisdom and knowledge to their protégés, giving their time generously and, in return, being inspired.
Acclaimed artists Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui, British author Bernardine Evaristo, Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhang-Ke, French architect Anne Lacaton and American jazz singer Dianne Reeves, mentored, respectively: South African visual artist Bronwyn Katz, Ghanaian writer Ayesha Harruna Attah, Filipino filmmaker Rafael Manuel, Lebanese-Armenian architect Arine Aprahamian, and South Korean singer and composer Song Yi Jeon.
Rolex’s commitment to the transmission of knowledge to the next generation takes place alongside its support for leading arts institutions and artists around the world.
ARCHITECTURE
Anne Lacaton and Arine Aprahamian
Young Lebanese-Armenian architect Arine Aprahamian is inspired to create buildings that are innovative, affordable and sustainable. Her philosophy sits well with French Pritzker-Prize winning architect Anne Lacaton, who espouses building renewal over demolition. During their collaboration, they discussed a theoretical project on the reintegration of abandoned buildings in Beirut’s Bourj Hammoud quarter.
Read the article on Rolex.org
FILM
Jia Zhang-Ke and Rafael Manuel
Young Filipino filmmaker Rafael Manuel collaborated for two years with acclaimed Chinese director Jia Zhang-Ke through the Rolex mentoring programme. Manuel won the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival for his short film Filipiñana. He is now working on his first features: a longer version of Filipiñana and Patrimonio.
Read the article on Rolex.org
LITERATURE
Bernardine Evaristo and Ayesha Harruna Attah
After her studies in the US, Ayesha Harruna Attah returned to Africa with a mission to write African stories for African readers. Five books later, she is ambitious for a wider readership. Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo is advising her on how to bridge the gap between her remote life in Senegal and the opportunities available in international publishing hubs.
Read the article on Rolex.org
MUSIC
Dianne Reeves and Song Yi Jeon
For five-time Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Dianne Reeves, the best way to mentor South Korean jazz composer and singer Song Yi Jeon was to invite her to perform with her band. Song Yi Jeon joined her on two European tours and in the process developed a much deeper understanding of herself as an artist.
Read the article on Rolex.org
VISUAL ARTS
El Anatsui and Bronwyn Katz
El Anatsui and South African artist Bronwyn Katz share an interest in reinventing discarded materials to provide a reflection on humanity, history and the planet. Contributing to renewing the world is the most important responsibility of an artist, says the distinguished Ghanaian sculptor.
Read the article on Rolex.org