Opening Launch 2021

.

About the opening

Presented by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong and Macao and Asia Art Hong Kong, Dutch Days in Hong Kong 2021 opened digitally to kick-off a series of special Dutch Arts and Cultural lectures and talks, workshops, musical concerts and culinary programmes which will be held over the months from 29th of April until the end of December 2021. Moderated by Mr. Charles Ho from the Wall Street Journal HK and officiated by the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs. Cherry Tse, with the Netherlands Consul General Mr. Arjen van den Berg, co-founder Mrs. Candice Lee opened the programme highlights. 

​

The kick-off was joined by Ms. Joyce Wu from FrieslandCampina Hong Kong, our Community Outreach school workshop sponsor and programme partners Ms. Dorothy Wong from Utahloy Foundation, Mr. Robert Aronson from Aronson Antiquairs, Mr. Simon Murphy from The New Dutch Academy, Mr. Kilian Chan from Aura Music and Mr. Stephen Lam from Ponte Orchestra.

​

Brief talks on the shared history of Blue and White porcelain of China by the Advisory Committee’s Chair Mr. Francis Li and the history of Delftware in the Netherlands by Mr. Robert Aronson of Aronson Antiquairs was held, giving guests an overview of the influences from China and how its popularity resulted in a thriving industry of Delftware in the Netherlands.

​

Helen Taylor from Royal Delft, the oldest-surviving Dutch Delftware manufacturer from 1653, gave an inside guided tour of the Royal Delft factory, showing how Delftware is made from clay to the final piece of work. 

​

Finally, Royal Delft’s Edo Anceaux conducted a live Delft tile painting workshop for guests to participate in, allowing them to experience first-hand the craft of Delftware painting that our students will experience in our school workshops of The Dutch Delft Blue Painting workshop with FrieslandCampina Hong Kong.

About the speaker

Mr. Francis Li Chung Hung

Mr. Francis Li is the founder of Curator International Art Consultant Limited. His articles about Chinese Art have been published by the Hong Kong Economic Journal Monthly and he was one of the keynote speakers in the 2013 Bloomberg Art Seminar in Hong Kong. He is also the program advisor of UNESCO Hong Kong Association and a member of Committee on Revising the Chinese History and History Curricula in Curriculum Development Council. The Hong Kong based Claire & Francis Heritage Lane Collection was founded by Claire and Francis Li. The couple not only collect Chinese ceramics, but also undertake academic research into the techniques, aesthetics and history of Chinese ceramics. Claire & Francis Heritage Lane are proud sponsors of the Friends of the Art Museum, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Robert Aronson

​

Robert D. Aronson (1970), married and father of three teenagers, is an Amsterdam based art dealer. His company Aronson Antiquairs, founded by an ancestor in 1881, is specialised solely in 17th and 18th century Dutch Delftware, ceramics produced in the Dutch city of Delft between circa 1620 and 1850. Besides his business Robert sits on several art market related boards, for the Dutch government and Dutch museums. Also he served three terms as the chairman of the Dutch dealers association and almost six years on the Executive Committee of TEFAF Maastricht. Robert has been a specialist on the Dutch version of the Antiques Roadshow for more than 18 years.

​

Helen Taylor

​

The Royal Delft

​Helen Taylor has been the Marketing & Communication Manager at Royal Delft since June 2019. Before that she fulfilled various other roles with in the organization. In her role she is responsible for the (inter)national marketing, communication and PR of the brand Royal Delft and since 2021 of the Royal Delft Museum. She studied Communication Studies at the Hague University of Applied Sciences.

About the workshop leader

Edo Anceaux 

​

The Royal Delft

Edo Anceaux has been at Royal Delft since 2013 and is responsible for international tourism and marketing at the company. In 2020 he co-developed the DIY workshop to stay in contact with his clients around the world. He has many years of experience giving painting workshops and has developed an artistic talent for painting in the meantime. Edo studied Business Administration (Leisure Management) at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. 

About Royal Delft

Paintbrushes carefully touch the white earthenware, whilst elsewhere clay is poured into handmade moulds. It is here, at Royal Delft, that craftsmen have been creating iconic Delft Blue for almost 400 years. Royal Delft, established in 1653, is the last remaining original Delftware factory in Delft from the 17th century that still produces hand painted Delft Blue according to centuries-old tradition.  In April 2021 the Royal Delft Museum was founded, with the mission to introduce visitors to the cultural heritage that Delftware is through experiences and stories. The coming years the Museum will develop new cultural activities around ceramics, like presenting, documenting and promoting ceramics, in particular the production of Royal Delft and its history and craftsmanship. 

About the moderator

Charles Ho

​

Charles Ho is Marketing Manager at The Wall Street Journal, overseeing global subscribers benefits and the loyalty proposition WSJ+ for The Wall Street Journal. Immersing himself in an international team, Charles spearheads WSJ+’s global strategy and members retention – from students through to professional memberships and networks. The Wall Street Journal now has the largest membership in its history. Alongside this he is responsible for the Pride@DJ, and DJ Wellness initiatives across the region.

With twenty years of experience in the media industry, Charles joined Dow Jones from the Financial Times where he served as Campaign and Marketing Manager for FT Live. He is currently based in Hong Kong.

Music 

Simon Murphy & The New Dutch Academy 

​

Music performed by

Simon Murphy & The New Dutch Academy 

from the album 

GRAND TOUR Baroque Road Trip 

(PENTATONE) 

Copyright Simon Murphy & PENTATONE 2017

Production

DreamLikeBubbles