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Embracing change without losing your character – Porsche joins hands with Aranya Theater Festival to explore new dimensions of Character SpeaksExperiencing the elegance of theatre and the essence of character

• Porsche once again partners with the Aranya Theater Festival, integrating various theatre and cross-disciplinary units, aiming to create a platform for sharing dreams, art, and life.

• A seaside Opening Night that gathers diverse art forms, blending modern sporty luxury with avant-garde art, presents a visually and spiritually stunning artistic feast.

• The premiere of Porsche’s exclusive themed play “Character Speaks,” directed by Aranya’s artistic team, Meng Jinghui and Liu Chang, conveys the power of style that transcends time and space.

• The new all-electric Macan makes a dazzling appearance, showcasing personalised con-figurations, exceptional performance, and innovative design, embodying the ultimate pur-suit of “Character Speaks” and promoting new concepts in the era of electrification.

Shanghai/Aranya. On the evening of 21 June, the Aranya Theater Festival's Character Night and opening party, themed "Character Speaks," took place at the Porsche Character Space on Aranya Beach, officially kicking off an 11-day journey of artistic character. As night falls, the giant Porsche 911 art sculpture “Character Space” casts a dreamlike purple glow across Aranya’s Provence Beach. Through theatrical performance, a drone show, and band performances, it creates an immersive experience that transcends time and space, presenting a visually and spiritually stunning artistic feast. Character can be the avant-garde expression of theatrical art or the ultimate reflection of sports car spirit. This year, Porsche and the Aranya Theater Festival have comprehensively expanded their cooperation and deeply integrated various theatre and cross-disciplinary units to explore the direction of style between “exception and rule.”

“The core of Porsche’s character lies in the adherence and inheritance of pure sports car DNA, and the interpretation and understanding of modern sporty luxury,” said Michael Kirsch, President and CEO of Porsche China. “The Aranya Theater Festival provides Porsche with a stage to showcase artistic integration and spatial innovation. This partnership with the Aranya Theater Festival is another deep exploration for Porsche to reach the younger generations and resonate with avant-garde expressions. Through the ceremonial platform of the theatre festival, we hope to embark on an artistic practice that breaks boundaries, fully displaying the essence of style and creating infinite possibilities for the future.”

Focusing on the Opening Night: diverse art forms interpreting the power of character

On the Opening Night, Michael Kirsch, President and CEO of Porsche China, Ma Yin, Founder of Aranya, Meng Jinghui, Aranya Theatre Festival Art Director, and Liu Chang, the Artistic Curator of Aranya Theatre Festival, shared their unique perspectives on character expression, exception and rule, and theatrical art, intertwining imagination and inspiration by the sea, officially kicking off the event. A unique seaside drone performance directed the audience’s gaze towards the magical connection between the sky and the sea, blending technology with nature, presenting the guests with a character show spanning time and space. As the phrase "Trends fade, but character endures" illuminated the sculpture, the Character Night reached its crescendo. Porsche once again interpreted the timeless essence of character in a unique way, offering an immersive experience of sharing dreams, art, and life.

Porsche’s exclusive themed play “Character Speaks,” directed by Liu Chang and performed by the Meng Jinghui Theater Studio, was passionately presented on the Opening Night. This play, themed “Embracing change without losing your character,” paid tribute to literary masters from four different eras through music, theatre, sculpture, and environment, conveying the power of character that transcends time and civilisation. Performed by the new generation “Butterfly Group” of the Meng Jinghui Theater Studio, they showcased the style expression of each character amidst the inherent avant-garde temperament of the younger generation, just as every Porsche model embodies the ultimate interpretation of character. As the stage lights up under the night sky by the sea – stepping out of the rules, creating exceptions – it uses theatre to convey the power of breaking through limitations to the world.

Showcasing the essence of character: the new all-electric Macan shines in Porsche Character Space

As Porsche’s first all-electric SUV, the all-electric Macan, with its pure driving performance, innovative yet classic design, ample range value, and excellent everyday practicality, perfectly interprets the unique charm of a luxury electric sports SUV. The new all-electric Macan not only inherits the sports car chassis consistent with all Porsche models but also offers a wealth of personalised configurations to meet consumers’ pursuit of unique style. Particularly, the Provence Purple paint colour presents a rich layered hue depending on lighting and angles, showcasing a distinctive charm. This model, newly developed on the performance-oriented PPE platform, demonstrates Porsche’s unwavering pursuit of classic design, excellent performance, and unique quality, while also reflecting the brand’s progressive spirit in innovative technology and digitalisation.

The Porsche Character Space, ingeniously combining brand, art, and theatrical elements, covers approximately 1,000 square meters. Inspired by the body design of the Porsche 911, this all-steel structure weighs about 100 tons, with a total weld length of 7 kilometers, demanding extremely high precision with an allowable error of only 3 millimeters, and a lifespan of at least 25 years. Making its first visit to China in Aranya after its debut at the 2023 Munich Auto Show, this giant sculpture installation aims to gather more stories from sports car enthusiasts, carrying these special memories to the next stop in the world.

Continuing the presentation of character: seeking inspiration and aesthetic resonance in seaside life

On 22 June, a seaside dialogue themed “Character Speaks” will take place in the Porsche Character Space, with special guests including Liu Chang, Aranya Theatre Festival Art Curator & Show Director, Ma Yansong, the Founder of MAD Architects, Zheng Jing, a Professor at China Academy of Art, and Ma Yin, the Founder of Aranya. This seaside dialogue will explore the fluidity of character through deep and humanistic content, promoting the integration and collision of diverse thoughts. That evening, a vibrant and enthusiastic public art parade will also be spectacularly presented, bringing a grand celebration of theatre and art. The parade will feature the Porsche art car 996 Swan, created by Scottish artist Chris Labrooy based on the 911 (996), the first car sold in the Chinese mainland 20 years ago, complementing the innovative spirit of the Aranya Theater Festival. Subsequently, the Porsche 996 Swan will be on continuous display during Migratory Bird 300, inspiring more diverse collisions of inspiration.

The seaside journey of public art also offers a rich variety of presentations. From 26-27 June, the seaside market officially opens, where Porsche will provide the public with a diverse array of artistic experiences and shopping options.

About Porsche China

Porsche was founded by Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Porsche in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1931 and was then transformed into a sports car manufacturer by Ferry Porsche in 1948. Porsche has been known as one of the most prestigious automobile brands in the world for decades. True to the core brand value of performance, Porsche leads the way in providing a new generation of sports cars that prove performance and efficiency can be perfectly combined.

Since entering the Chinese mainland in 2001, Porsche China has been dedicated to bringing the sporty genes and innovative spirit of the marque to Porsche enthusiasts in this dynamic market. In Porsche’s network in China, customers can experience the unlimited appeal of Porsche’s iconic sports cars: the legendary 911 series, the renowned 718 Boxster and Cayman mid-engine sports cars, the luxurious Cayenne premium SUV, the dynamic and pioneering Macan SUV, the luxurious four-door Panamera with pure sports genes and the all-electric Taycan with four-door sports saloon. Each demonstrates excellence in performance, exquisite design, and consistent commitment to perfect quality that Porsche embodies. Across Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, there are now 155 sales sites in operation, ensuring that Porsche customers across the country receive the hallmark personalised care that sets Porsche apart around the world.

or more information or enquiries, please visit us at www.porsche.cn Or contact:

6/26/2024

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