Rare Dutch treats on the way

China-Holland culture exchanges are set for a big boost in the coming months, building upon the initiatives begun in 2005.

In October of that year, a Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Culture of China and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands.

In the same month, a 14-day China Festival was held in Amsterdam, showcasing Chinese art, music, theater and dance. This successful festival marked the starting point of the close cultural cooperation between the two countries.

In the coming months, several planned Dutch and Chinese cultural events will provide further momentum to these exchanges.

Creative design

The Netherlands is well known for its innovative product designs and this expertise will be on show at the following upcoming exhibitions and fairs.

The Droog design exhibition will open on November 8 at Beijing's Yonghe Museum.

"A Human Touch" Droog on Tour in the Chinese mainland will present contemporary works by renowned designers, chosen to reflect the relation between the user and the product.

The installation invites people to move and touch the exhibits and stimulates an adventurous encounter with the products. It consists of a group of objects, such as tables, cupboards, lamps and chairs, that function like a film set for the products.

Together they form small or larger rooms which present Droog products the way they are meant to be. The installation is designed by young Dutch designer Simon Heijdens.

November will also see a large Dutch Design Exhibition in the Creative Industry Week in Shanghai.

These events will be followed by a Dutch presentation and a mini-seminar at the Business of Design Week 2007 in Hong Kong from December 10 to 15. More details can be accessed at www.bodw.com. In 2008, the Netherlands will be partner country in the Business of Design Week.

Rembrandt in Shanghai

The Shanghai Museum will present an exhibition on Rembrandt and the Golden Age, Highlights from the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, and bring, for the first time, masterpieces from the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam to Chinese audiences.

This unique exhibition of 76 treasures will show the genius of Rembrandt and the world that inspired him. It will include two paintings by Rembrandt and twenty prints by the master as well as Delft Blue and silver objects and other paintings by famous Dutch artists such as Frans Hals, Jan Steen and Jacob van Ruysdael.

The exhibition will open on November 2 and run through February 13, 2008. More details at www.rembrandtinchina.com

Modern dance

China and the Netherlands share a long cooperation in the field of modern and contemporary dance. Borneoco, a Dutch cultural organization backed by the Dutch DOEN Foundation and the Netherlands Embassy, has been supporting the Crossing Festival in Beijing and the Fringe dance festival in Shanghai, since 2005.

Anouk van Dijk and Beijing Modern Dance have been working on a joint production titled "Women in the world" which is scheduled to tour Europe and China and is supported by the Netherlands China Arts Foundation.

Exhibition in Guangzhou

The Dutch Exhibition: From Musical Clock to Street Organ, is now on at the Guangdong Museum of Art and will run till November 11. The exhibition offers a unique insight into musical instruments from 1480 to 1930.

Visitors can not only see the instruments but will also be treated to a demonstration of how they are played.

The opening of the exhibition on September 19 featured Christiaan Van Kuyvenhoven, winner of the Liszt Concourse, on piano, playing along with a musical clock!

Children's literature

This summer, a special translation project was presented to the Chinese public. The Netherlands' most popular children's stories about a naughty little boy and girl called Jip and Janneke were published in Chinese.

The book is available from major bookstores.

In the Netherlands

During the Olympic year 2008, two Dutch museums, the Drents Museum and the Groninger Museum, will be turned almost completely Chinese.

The project Go China! Assen - Groningen will feature five spectacular exhibitions ranging from archeology and architecture to avant-garde art and Chinese contemporary art.

These exhibitions are aimed at providing Dutch audiences with an overview of China's rich culture.

Both museums will also organize many activities related to the exhibition. In the Drents museum in Assen, there will be an exhibition of Xi'an's terracotta warriors whereas in Groningen ancient bronzes from the Shanghai Museum will be shown, as well as exhibitions of Chinese avant-garde and contemporary art, including Ai Weiwei.

More at www.gochinaassengroningen.nl

(Shanghai Start 09/28/2007 page3)