AXA Art presents

Dutch Days Museum Seminar

Organized by Asia Week Hong Kong

Monday, 13 April 2015 | 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Van Gogh Museum

History of the Vincent van Gogh Collection by Mr Willem van Gogh

Willem van Gogh will give insights on the development of Vincent van Gogh as an artist and his relationship with his brother Theo. How Van Gogh became a famous artist worldwide and how the collection, which after the death of Vincent and Theo was privately held by his nephew was transferred into a collection accessible for the public for which the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has been founded.

The seminar continues after a short break* for a cross cultural panel discussion with the Hong Kong museums, companies and organisations.

Panel members: Mr Willem van Gogh - Van Gogh Museum, Ms Lynn Fung - Liang Yi Museum and Mr Khadinn Khan - AXA ART

Moderator: Ms Denise Chu - artasiapacific

*refreshment will be offered during the break

Tuesday, 14 April 2015 | 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Rijksmuseum

The New Rijksmuseum, Old Masters for a New Audience by Mr Wim Pijbes

How could the Rijksmuseum best deliver its constant purpose for a changing public? The Rijksmuseum is the Netherlands national museum for art and history. Established in the early nineteenth century, over one million objects, including iconic masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Vincent van Gogh. After the completion of ten years' renovation and transformation in 2013, the Rijksmuseum is open, literally 365 days in a year. The building is open, the daylit Atrium is freely accessible, including bookshop and cafe. The Museum gardens are open, free for all, with summer exhibitions. In the terrace, the children playground and the sculpture garden, visitors can pick a chair, read a book or enjoy people watching people doing the same thing in a relaxing manner. The General Director of the Rijksmuseum, Wim Pijbes, views that the modern museum is more than a building as such. The Rijksmuseum opened their collection and reach far beyond the brickstone walls thanks to the internet. Open access not only is the future for the internet, but also the building, to the collection and to the institution - it is the future of the museum.

The seminar continues after a short break* for a cross cultural panel discussion with the Hong Kong museums, companies and organisations.

Panel members: Mr Wim Pijbes - Rijksmuseum, Ms Eve Tam - Hong Kong Museum of Art and Ms Alice Mong - Asia Society Hong Kong Center

*refreshment will be offered during the break

Wednesday, 15 April 2015 | 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Stedelijk Museum

Reflecting on the now, Stedelijk Museum in continuous change by Mr Bart Rutten

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is the museum in the largest museum in the Netherlands presenting and collecting modern and contemporary art and design. Since its re opening in 2012 as it has for the first time in the history of the museum a part of the building permanently reserved for its world famous collection containing icons by artists like Van Gogh, Kirchner, Picasso, Malevich, Mondriaan, Rietveld, De Kooning, Warhol, Mendini and the latest developments in Dutch Design. Bart Rutten, Head of Collection, will present in 100 slides how it dealt with its collections in the different displays and how it related to the exhibition program and public program that caught the attention of the international art press. Herein its organization structure, its position at the museumsquare in Amsterdam as well as in the international network of museums will be discussed. With the arrival of its new director Beatrix Ruf in November last year, changes are forecasted and shared in this presentation to give the audience to peek in the future of Stedelijk Museum.

The seminar continues after a short break* for a cross cultural panel discussion with the Hong Kong museums, companies and organisations.

Panel members: Mr Bart Rutten - Stedelijk Museum, Mr Doryun Chong - M+ Museum and Mr John Batten - Art critic& Organizer of Hong Kong ArtWalk

Moderator: Ms Laura Raibaut - Christie's

*refreshment will be offered during the break

The Dutch Days Museum Seminar is part of Dutch Days in Hong Kong www.dutchdaysinhongkong.com

Asia Week Hong Kong presents

Dutch Days Art Lecture

Delft! Blue or not?

Thursday, 16 April 2015 | 6:30*pm - 8:30 pm | residence Consul General of the Netherlands

Delft! Blue or not? by Robert D. Aronson

When Chinese porcelain was introduced in Europe around 1600 it ignited the production of ceramics in the Dutch city of Delft. Delft potters became trendsetters and soon went ‘from imitation to inspiration,’ their objects being copied in many European factories and even in late 17th century China and Japan.

Aronson Antiquairs has since 1881 shared the passion for Dutch Delftware with private collectors and museum and corporate curators around the world. For generations the Aronson family members have strived to gain and maintain the confidence of its clientèle to collect the finest Delftware available.

Robert Aronson, specialist in 17th and 18th century Dutch Delftware and a “master in Delft blue” has “some of the world’s most sought-after example of rare Dutch Delftware”. In this lecture, gives an overview of the rise and fall of the Delft faïence industry. The importance of the VOC, the Dutch East India traders and the impact of changing religious movements in Europe. After this lecture you will never call Dutch Delftware ‘Delft Blue’ any more!

About the speaker

Robert D. Aronson, the fifth generation owner, joined the company in 1990. Over the course of his 25 year career he became a regular specialist on the Dutch Antiques Roadshow, he became the chairman of the Dutch art dealers association, Royal VHOK, and is a member of the Executive Committee of TEFAF Maastricht, the fair that defines excellence in art.

*Cocktail reception with Dutch canapes

The Dutch Days Art Lecture is part of Dutch Days in Hong Kong www.dutchdaysinhongkong.com