At 11a.m. CEST, on Tuesday, 9th June, the Opening Ceremony of “Spring Fantasy 2020: Green Rooting” took place at the exhibition hall of China Cultural Center Den Haag (CCC) in the Netherlands. 

This is the first time that CCC explores the unconventional way to bring the audience together, not only in the Netherlands but from around the world, through online media. Guests who were not able to present also joined this event via Zoom Meeting online, when they interacted with the on-site participants. Meanwhile, Facebook and YouTube Live were launched for the general public to witness this exciting event.

Facing the unprecedented challenge this year, China Cultural Center Den Haag implemented extremely strict safety measures either on preparation and presentation. Mr. Hongchang Huang, Director of China Cultural Center, hosted the opening. First, he expressed a warm welcome to the invited artists. And he said, “Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this scheduled exhibition has been postponed several times. Though the public visitors can not join us onsite for some health restrictions, CCC utilized and integrated the cutting-edge technology in the field of online meeting and livestream. In this way, people around the world can still participate in this great event safely at home and from afar.”  Mr. Huang also pointed out that “Great changes have brought to the world by the pandemic. It is art that brings us together. In organizing this event, we wish to bring to people comfort, encouragement and hope.”

Ms. Zhanhong Liao, the guest curator, expressed her great thanks to CCC for sharing this platform and opportunity with Dutch and Chinese artists, and she said, “Art connects us all. The theme of this exhibition is ‘Green Rooting’. Green represents spring, positivity, harmony, growth and hope; and Rooting gives us a sense of stability, strength, nourishment, and connection. We hope this spirit of ‘Green Rooting’ inspires us to keep hope during this difficult time in human history, and to be connected with each other.

▲ Ms. Zhanhong Liao, the curator, is giving a speech 

▲Artists explaining their works

▲Dutch artist Riëlle Beekmans’ Sculpture

For the first time, China Cultural Center utilized the online streaming through multi-channel network to showcase this creative art exchange activity. Apart from the six invited artists, CCC has also invited Mr. Ed van der Kooy, vice chairman of PULCHRI studio in Den Haag, Ms. Zongyan Chen from Amsterdam University of Applied Science, Ms. Marijke Lie- an independent curator from Utrecht, the Netherlands  as well as Ms. Xuejing Yang, founder of  Sky Culture ( an international cultural exchange company) in the city of Shenzhen China, Mr. Zhibin Liao from Australia, and prof. Berit Slattum from Norway etc. who have  participated the opening ceremony via Zoom Meeting. At the same time, this opening was live streamed through Facebook and YouTube, which attracted art-lovers from all over the world and facilitated the cultural communication and interaction.   

▲Facebook Live 

▲Youtube Live

▲ guests participating the opening via Zoom  online

In the end, the participating artists collaborated on a 4 meter-long canvas to create a joint painting which portrays the impression of Spring Fantasy. 

The exhibition has displayed 36 art works from the following four Dutch and four Chinese artists:  Diederik Klomberg, Frans Huisman, RiëlleBeekmans, Sylvie Overheul, Zhanhong Liao, Zhongnai, Zhifei Chang, Xiaoling Huang. 

(▲Highlights of opening ceremony of “Spring Fantasy 2020”)

“Spring Fantasy: A Sino-Dutch Art Exchange Exhibition” has been a self-owned cultural brand of China Cultural Center Den Haag for three years, aiming at providing an open and shared platform for both Dutch and Chinese artists and beyond. China Cultural Center has successfully hosted the first and second editions in 2018 and 2019 respectively. 

(▲Highlights of “Spring Fantasy 2018 & 2019)

In addition to the conventional on-site exhibition, the third edition this year consists of two related online workshops. For more information, please follow CCC official website and social media.

The duration of “Spring Fantasy 2020” will last for one month, from June 9th to 8th of July, 2020. 

Operation & Photography: TAO Yue
Media & Videography: LI Xinyu 
Livestream: HE Bin  & XI Ge
Consultant: Marie-Anne Souloumiac