VNC co-organized grand 75th anniversary celebration of the People’s Republic in Zwolle’s “coolest” hall.
On Oct. 3, the Netherlands China Association, in cooperation with the Netherlands China Business Council and the Association of Chinese Investors and Entrpreneurs, organized a wonderful networking event in the “Koelwaterhal “(IJsselcentrale) in Zwolle, the pitch of the well-known visual artist Ronald Westerhuis, known for the MH17 monument, among other things.
The reason for the event was the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, founded in 1949. Chinese Ambassador Tan Jian and Zwolle Alderman of Culture Anja Roelfs were guests of honor.
The Koelwater Hall had been decorated in Chinese atmospheres for the occasion. There were huge flags of China and the Netherlands, the hall was decorated with many red lanterns, there was Chinese music and there was beautiful art by Chen Nan, who knows how to make very expressive art out of Chinese characters and symbols.
Nearly 200 visitors, a diverse group of Dutch and Chinese businessmen, academics and art lovers, got a taste of a duo exhibition of Chen Nan’s and Ronald Westerhuis’ work, scheduled for May next year at the Koelwater Hall. In addition, visitors were treated to lectures by two very interesting speakers. Rob Berkel, author of the book Chinese Sketches, took us back to the moment Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic on that Saturday afternoon, Oct. 1, 1949, using many unique photo and film materials.
Then the enthusiastic sinologist Carwyn Morris (University Lecturer in Digital China at Leiden University) gave us an insight into the digital social life of the Chinese, with many examples and images he showed what is hot on the Internet in China.
The ambassador concluded with a frank speech in which he did not shy away from thorny issues and emphasized that cooperation is the only way forward.
Visitors responded enthusiastically to this fine program, they enjoyed the sumptuous buffet, and there was long afterthought and networking.
Thanks to the many volunteers, including Sinology students from Leiden, the VNC looks back on a very successful event!
Ronald Westerhuis
Ronald Westerhuis considers China his second home. He first came there in 2005, after participating in the competition to design the Olympic flame (for the Beijing Games). He ended up living in China for 15 years. With the meeting and exhibition, he wants to increase mutual understanding between the Netherlands and China. That starts with dialogue. There is a lot of ignorance about the country. We were raised with an American view of the world, my grandfather was already talking about the yellow peril. But it’s civilization we can learn a lot from.”
