Initiated through a partnership between the Jonathan KS Choi Foundation and Palais de Tokyo, the Sino-French Artist Residency Program – jointly participated by Beijing's The Choi Centre Cloud House and the Embassy of France in Beijing – successfully wrapped up its latest round of exchanges and creative practices at the start of 2026. Serving as a pivotal platform for contemporary artistic creation between China and France, the program operates primarily out of The Choi Centre Cloud House in Beijing and Palais de Tokyo in Paris, continuously promoting the diverse context of cross-cultural research, creation and dialogue for artists.

This cross-cultural exchange Chinese curator Dai Xiyun travelled to Palais de Tokyo in Paris to conduct curatorial research, while French artist Roy Köhnke took up residency at The Choi Centre Cloud House in Beijing for site-specific creation and public engagement.

The program accumulated positive feedback from audiences at its interim presentations and public events, marking the successful conclusion of the 2025 Sino-French Artist Residency Program. A new cycle of the residency initiative was set to launch imminently.

Dai Xiyun: Curatorial Research on "Rurality" in Paris

As part of the Sino-French Artist Residency Program co-organized by the Jonathan KS Choi Foundation and Palais de Tokyo, Chinese curator Dai Xiyun joined the institution’s La Friche #5 project in Paris for a three-month curatorial research and exchange residency.

During her stay, she embarked on field trips with two fellow French curators to art projects across rural France, conducting fieldwork and panel discussions centred on the program’s core theme: "rurality". Dai co-curated a two-day film screening programme alongside Liza Maignan and Fanny Van Opstal for the residency’s Open Studio event. The screening showcased works from six Chinese and French artist collectives, exploring multifaceted interpretations of rurality in contemporary art from distinct cultural perspectives.

She also presented interim findings of her curatorial research to the public. Her recent scholarship examined the roles of botanical flora amid early modernisation and imperial expansion, centering on underrepresented knowledge networks and spatial frameworks that have profoundly shaped global societies throughout history.

Roy Köhnke: Display of Local Creation and Academic Exchange in Beijing

Concurrent with the Sino-French Artist Residency Program in Paris, French artist Roy Köhnke undertook a residency at The Choi Centre Cloud House in Beijing to pursue local artistic research and creation.

At the meantime, Köhnke selected painting and sculpture as his foundational basics, along with text and visual imagery to advance his ongoing exploration around human anatomy, sensory perception and narrative structures. He also integrated theoretical perspectives from gender studies and speculative fiction into his observations of China’s cultural landscape.

As a flagship public component of the residency, The Choi Centre Cloud House hosted an Open Studio event in January 2026, offering the public a glimpse into Köhnke’s evolving research and creative process during his stay. The artist himself exhibited his developing paintings and visual frameworks, sharing insights from his daily life and artistic practice in Beijing, and explaining how these local experiences informed the visual language and narrative logic of his works.

Beyond studio practice, Köhnke engaged in academic outreach across Beijing’s higher education institutions. He delivered a guest lecture at the School of Materials Design and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, titled Body, Material and Site: Decoding an Artist’s Creative Practice, where he shared his artistic methodologies and interdisciplinary experience with faculty and students.

Cross-Residency: A Process-Centred Exchange Model

This year’s residency program prioritised a process-driven approach. Rather than prioritising fully finished artworks as its sole objective, it encouraged artists and curators to engage in long-term observation, field research and experimental creation within unfamiliar cultural environments.

Through open studios, film screenings, lectures and public conversations, the programme brought artists’ developmental research into public view. Visitors gained access to creators’ thought processes and works-in-progress prior to completion, fostering an enduring platform for continuous cross-cultural dialogue.

Artist & Curator Biographies

Dai Xiyun

Dai Xiyun is an independent curator based and working in Beijing. Her research focuses on the production and disciplining of space, examining how spatial frameworks construct human bodies, desires and knowledge systems as a form of social production. Her recent research centres on botanical gardens as spatial constructs, China’s early modernisation, and herbal knowledge as reproductive technology. Her curatorial practice prioritises collaborative creation and site-specificity.

Roy Köhnke

Working primarily in sculpture, Roy Köhnke expands his practice into painting, text and audio-visual installation. Drawing inspiration from gender theory and speculative fiction, his work challenges conventional perceptions of the human body and identity. During his Beijing residency, Köhnke seeks to draw new creative inspiration from China’s rich cultural heritage.