On the last day when the independent brand activity of China Cultural Center The Hague (the third edition) "Spring Fantasy 2020-Green & Rooting: A Sino-Dutch Art Exchange Exhibition" (Exhibition period: June 9 to July 8) ended July 8 (Wednesday), a supporting online seminar was successfully held. The center and guest curator of the exhibition, Ms. Liao Zhanhong, a Dutch-Chinese painter, jointly invited 23 guests of Dutch artists, Chinese painters, art agents, and Sino-Dutch cultural exchange professionals to gather on the online platform to conduct thematic discussions and exchanges on "How to Explore the Future Trend and Path of Sino-Dutch Cultural Exchanges in the Post-pandemic Era".


Online seminar poster ▲Design: Li Xinyu

Firstly, Mr. Hongchang Huang, Director of CCC, introduced briefly the exhibition overview.  "This third edition ‘Spring Fantasy 2020’ was postponed due to the epidemic situation. However, when the situation improved in June and cultural activities restarted, the center explored a new model of online event to continue the art exchanges. The opening ceremony was held on June 9th  on-line and offline at the same time. We overcame the difficulties of lack of hands, technical reserves and experience, succeeded in making use of Zoom video meeting and livestreamed via Facebook and YouTube. Artists from the UK, Norway, Austria, Australia and  some other countries were  connected at the same time. We successfully found technical solutions for online activities in the future. As of the beginning of this seminar (the exhibition lasts for one month), in order to prevent the spread of the pandemic, the center effectively controlled the total number of visitors on site, but the total number of viewers of the 8-minute-long video for the opening event and the  exhibition on Facebook reached more than 8,000 on-line. This is completely beyond our original estimation." said Mr. Huang.


▲ Facebook video overview

Holding a camera in his hand, Mr. Huang guided 23 guests on Zoom meeting and 200 more online viewers for a quick tour of the exhibition again in the center.  He added, "The pandemic has brought tremendous impact to all walks of life in the world, as well as on the cultural and art industry. In the post-pandemic era, how to carry out international cultural exchanges and cooperation under the help of the network, new media, and technology, is a topic we need to discuss about today and in the future. "


Mr. Huang communicates with artists in front of the big screen 

Then, Ms. Liao Zhanhong introduced 8 participating artists for the real exhibition and 15 guests and friends from China and the Netherlands, and guided them on discussions.


▲Ms. Liao, a Dutch-Chinese artist and curator, presided over the seminar


▲Guests on the seminar

Mr. Diederik Klomberg, the Dutch artist, delivered  his speech first. He said, "Thanks to China Cultural Center who invited me for this exhibition and online seminar. During the pandemic, participating online Sino-Dutch art exchange activities was a great attempt, which gave me the opportunity to meet and communicate with different artists through the internet. This helped  me to broaden my channels of link with the outside world."


▲Diederik Klomberg, a Dutch participating artist

Ms. Sylvie, the Dutch female painter said, "Sorry that I haven't been able to go and see the exhibition, but when I watched the video, I was surprised to find that 36 pieces (sets) of works with different themes and styles in the spacious exhibition hall at CCC were perfectly presented, with complementary colors that go well with each other. I have watched the video over and over again, and it seemed to me a large long river was flowing in the mountains, inspiringly and smoothly. The dialogue between Chinese and Western art, the blend of tradition and modernity, is a challenge to the curator on her artistic skills when she manages to set them up. The exhibition looks so great that it is an impressive piece of work in itself."


▲ Dutch female painter Sylvie 


▲Dutch sculptor Rielle Beekmans 

Ms. Rielle Beekmans, the Dutch sculptor said, "I was also very impressed with the opening ceremony. But I was so deeply focused on creating my own work at that time, when I forgot to interact with the others. When I watched the video later, I saw the others were jointly creating the bright-colored large painting in the air of warm spring. I feel that I have missed a precious opportunity to communicate with artists around me. I regret about it. I do hope that I will have one more chance soon so that everyone gets together again, even just for a Chinese meal." The artist's true feelings made everyone laugh, and the online and offline guests were infected by the joyous atmosphere, applauding and approving. The exchange and interaction of Chinese and Western cultures, even across the screen, can create sparks and resonate, which is really commendable and wonderful. 

This is the second online event supporting the exhibition after the Dutch sculptor Ms. Rielle and Ms. Huang Xiaoling, a Dutch-Chinese visual art and graphic designer, jointly held the first online art workshop on June 22.

Mr. Chang Zhifei, a young talented Chinese painter who lives in the Netherlands, said that he received different art education and absorbed nutrition both in China and the Netherlands. Dedicated to the fusion of traditional Chinese ink-paintings and the vivid colors of Western oil paintings, his works has received well attention and welcome in the Beijing 798 art circle. 

The Dutch painter, Mr. Frans Huisman said, "I have always been impressed by the opening ceremony. It was a perfect experience for me. I didn't realize that there were still many other people on the internet were watching us. I was thrilled when I watched the video after the event. My family and friends are proud that I participated this Sino-Dutch Art Exchange Exhibition at China Cultural Center in The Hague."

Dutch contemporary artist Jos van der Berg was the only guest who came to the exhibition hall, for as he told he could not manage to get online. " Since my first visit to China in 1973 I became a fan of Chinese art. I have visited China so many times, each time I gained new harvest and experience. I noticed the development and progress of China and the great charm of Chinese art. Being affected by the pandemic, my trip to China this year will be hard to complete, but this has given me an opportunity to sort out my ideas paintings. When the planned exhibition by CCC at the Royal Painting Association of The Hague (PULCHRI studio) was cancelled because because of the pandemic. I seized this rare opportunity and co-hosted an exhibition with Ms. Marieta Reijerkerk, Chairman of the Exhibition Committee of gallery Pulchri studio. We named this exhibition ‘China Thoughts' in order to express our love and longing for China."


The Dutch contemporary artist Jos van der Berg ▲Photograph: Tao Yue


In addition, Ms. Tineke van Gils, a Dutch ceramic artist, and Ms. Nicole Donkers, Dutch ceramist and curator, shared their experiences and stories of exchange and cooperation with Jingdezhen(the world renowned porcelain capital city) and Dehua Ceramics in China; Ms. Joke Bakker, founder of Open Art Exchange Gallery in Rotterdam and Mr. Alex Lebbink, owner of  SinArts gallery in The Hague, who specializes in the promotion of Chinese painters' works in the Netherlands, told about the huge impact of the corona virus pandemic on the art market, and then expressed their good hope to explore multilateral collaborations with institutions and the center in the future. 


 

▲ Real Exhibition in China Cultural Center The Hague