The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United Arab Emirates presents Art and Design Highlights from Holland Welkom!
Welcome (‘welkom’ in Dutch) to the Embassy of the You might be surprised by the vast open space Kingdom of the Netherlands in Abu Dhabi. Through with no walls at the embassy. The interior design this beautifully illustrated book we would like you is a showcase for the Dutch ‘Nieuwe Werken’, to take a grand tour of the premises and enjoy the a new world of work that encourages flexible carefully selected art and design collection. Every- working times and unassigned workstations. thing you will see is created by Dutch companies This enjoys great interest in both business and in and artists such as Marcel Wanders, Erwin Olaf the government. The innovative time and location- and Esther Stasse. This unique book was created independent work method proves to be more by Dutch photo graphers Erik and Petra Hesmerg social and efficient and in keeping with the Dutch Photography and design studio Beukers Scholma commitment to operate with openness and trans- based in Holland. parency. The Dutch company Ahrend produces this simple, bright, functional office furniture. Stepping out onto the th floor of the Centro Capital Centre Building, you are greeted by natural light Another Dutch work philosophy is to create an and an almost degree view of Abu Dhabi. agreeable, cultural working and living atmosphere On one end of the building stands the golden through art and design. Themes that are prevalent orange LIWA tower, created by the Dutch architect in most of the younger art work at the embassy are Kas Oosterhuis. connected to Holland; its identity, prosperity and society. It combines works that demonstrate how Invisible from the embassy, scattered around Holland is perceived by other cultures and how the the UAE, are several other Dutch creations and Dutch contribute to preserving and strengthening involvement by Dutch companies: such as the their natural environment. Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain with its iconic facade resembling the trunk of a palm tree by BAM Holland enjoys over years of diplomatic constructors, as well as the iconic Palm Jumeirah relations with the UAE and over the years more Island and TBC Bluewaters Island, which are than ¡ Dutch companies have established the result of applying sand as well as re-profiling themselves in the UAE. The Embassy of the various beach areas, a job well done by Van Oord. Kingdom of the Netherlands is very proud of this The Dutch Mammoet heavy lifting services supplied long and vast Dutch presence. In the first insert the second tallest crane in the world to lift Dubai of this book you will find some beautiful pictures Eye’s observation wheel. ICE International has of icons in the UAE to which the Dutch contributed. been, among many other projects, responsible for the carpets in the lobby of the St Regis Hotel in Abu Dhabi and Fugro provided engineering geotechnical services for the Burj Khalifa. The Dubai based Gielissen from Holland built two rides for the Ferrari Worlds theme park in Yas Island and Hypsos, Kossmann.dejong and the OPERA Amsterdam are active as exhibition designers. Crossing disciplines Crossing disciplines
A painter who enjoys experimenting with sculptures. to water shortages, water safety, water quality, logistics Designers who not only create useful objects but are and transport, the Netherlands make the difference innovators developing new technology or flirting with across the globe. We are leaders in the field, which the use of conceptual ideas. Photography as an art, which obliges us to continue to invest and innovate with our surpasses the act of pure registration and refers to the know-how and expertise.’ tradition of the painted, symbolic still life of Holland’s ‘Golden’ £th century. Willem Hussem found the motives for his colourful, This constant intersection between disciplines typifies abstract geometric paintings in the green polder land- art and design from Holland. Internationally acclaimed art scapes of Holland. After , Hussem ‘translated’ schools such as the Design Academy, Rietveld Academie his paintings into geometric sculptures. Two big and and Rijksakademie encourage this intersection and are two small horizontals cross two verticals, as simple open to both Dutch and foreign students. and straightforward as our low country and the sea they depict. Hussem has also authored some As a designer, Jólan van der Wiel experiments with austere poems. technology and natural forces. His inimitable stools and candlesticks literally take shape as the tangible Gijs Bakker can be considered as an experienced, result of reacting gravity, centrifugal force, static highly versatile conceptual designer, jewellery artist force and Aeolian (wind-blown) energy. For this and teacher. ‘Designing always starts with the same method Van der Wiel developed a machine in which questions: What does it add to the world of design?’ resin and iron particles are put into a magnetic field, states Bakker. ‘Does it introduce something new resulting in these characteristic, solidified stalactite- – an idea or approach, a way of using or experiencing?’ like shapes. This amusing umbrella lamp, already designed in , typifies Bakker’s multi-style way of thinking and Jean-Marc Spaans creates photographs of light. playing with existing shapes as its white (un) folding He captures the trace of moving light by photography cap is similar to those used in photography. without showing its source. These traces of light appear as if they are part of architecture or objects Guido Geelen works in various applied arts: ceramics, actually constructed or installed in space. Some of textiles, bronze casting like this ‘forever solidified’ them look like still, geometric structures while others bouquet with pompom dahlias, an important Dutch resemble dynamic, organic life. Here we see his export product. ‘paintings with light’ in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, The object looks ambiguous. ‘Flowers in a vase the foremost national museum of Holland. constantly are changing. In the beginning they look fresh and tempting, gradually they deteriorate and The small sculptures of Ingrid van der Hoeven show become a symbol of transience,’ Geelen says. female appearances between realistic figuration An interesting technical detail: the artist deliberately and abstract. Still, the shapes also refer to urns, used did not remove the construction, which was needed in China. Van der Hoeven used layers of mdf-plywood to keep the cast flower stems in their place. As a result instead of clay, carefully glued together. Saw cuts the quasi-natural bouquet turns into an abstract suggest the cut of clothing. table sculpture.
All-round designer Edward van Vliet finds inspiration Artistically speaking, ceramist Esther Stasse feels in exotic influences: ‘I like the blend between east related to the Calvinist, ‘less is more’ geometric art and west,’ he says. His geosphere Rontonton lamps tradition of the Netherlands: ‘I construct my vases are made out of plastic and aluminium perforated from moulded parts; as an architect designing his sandwich sheets. The fairy tale like radiation through buildings. My objects are autonomous as its function the perforated sheets adds an additional layer. – placing flowers in them – is secondary,’ she explains. Other products of Van Vliet are his custom-designed carpets, which are being produced by ICE International, ‘I like to communicate through images as an inde- a company in Holland. ICE specialises in high-end pendent film director would do,’ states Maarten Baas. residential and hospitality projects and is also Autonomous designer Baas pokes fun withexpectations responsible for the carpets in the lobby of the St Regis of what functionality should look like. This working Hotel in Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah electric fan seems to be designed for a cartoon set Emirates Towers, and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. in prehistoric times. Nevertheless Baas sculpted it by hand in synthetic clay around a traditional iron frame Henk Ovink, represented here by a ‘pebble-sculpture’ and mechanism. Here (at the embassy) it suggests and the hat-like object ‘Pearls’, started as a monument how the heat in the UAE even starts to melt a fan. artist, making sculptures for public spaces. However, he later made a radical career change. Ovink now is the first special envoy for International Water Affairs for the Netherlands – ‘With its integrated approach Crossing disciplines ¡ rit n einr / opne / Book credits / Companies / Artists and designers Artists and designers Title Venusheuvel Title Paarlen Fugro Survey Middle East Ltd. Technique Softboard bonded & acrylic Technique Aluminium and synthetic Geotechnical services Artist Maarten Baas Dimension ¡ x ¡ x cm material www.fugro-uae.com Gallery / Manufacturer DHPH Year ¨¨ª Dimension © cm Contact details www.dhph.com Title Vrouwberg Year ¨¨© Gielissen Interiors & Exhibitions www.maartenbaas.com Technique MDF & softboard bonded Realizes Interiors & Exhibitions worldwide Title Clay floor fan medium (white) Dimension ¡ x ¡ x ¨ cm Artist Jean-Marc Spaans www.gielissen.com Technique Synthetic clay to a metal Year ¨¨ª Gallery / Manufacturer Galerie Nouvelles skeleton, painted Title Wereldberg () Images, Den Haag Hypsos Middle East LLC Dimension x x cm Technique Softboard & roofmate Contact details www.nouvellesimages.nl Design & build Edition Open edition bonded Title Untitled www.hypsos.com Year ¡ Dimension © x ª x £ cm Technique Fujiflex ca on dibond /perspex Year ¨¨£ Dimension ¡© x £© cm Kossmann.dejong Artist Gijs Bakker Edition / ª Exhibition architects Gallery / Manufacturer Artimeta Soest Artist Willem Hussem Year ¡© www.kossmanndejong.nl Contact details www.gijsbakker.com Gallery / Manufacturer Galerie Nouvelles Title Untitled Title Umbrella Lamp Images, Den Haag Technique Fujiflex ca on dibond /perspex OPERA Amsterdam Technique Chrome steel, viscose Contact details www.nouvellesimages.nl / Dimension x ¡ cm Exhibition architects Edition Limited artists / show / ª¨ Edition / ª www.opera-amsterdam.nl Year ¨£ Title Untitled Year ¡© Technique Aluminium Royal Ahrend Artist Noor Damen Dimension Artist A. Spronk Office furniture Gallery / Manufacturer Van Kranendonk gallery Year ± ¨£ Title Unknown www.ahrend.com Contact details www.vankranendonk.nl Techniek Ceramics with black glazing Title Agapantus ’ Artist Sjoerd Knibbeler Other details unknown ICE International Technique Photography Gallery / Manufacturer LhGWR Custom made area rugs and carpets Dimension © x ¡ cm Contact details www.lhgwr.com Artist Esther Stasse www.rugs.nl Edition / Title Surfacing Cloud I (Triptych) ’ Contact details www.estherstasse.nl Year ¡ Technique Print on perspex ( mm) Title Vaas-object Moooi – design Marcel Wanders Title Nieuwe klompen ’ Dimension £© x cm Technique Casting technique Product design Technique Photography Edition / Materiaal Ceramics www.marcelwanders.com Dimension © x ¡ cm Year ¡ Dimension © x £ cm www.moooi.com Edition / Title Surfacing Cloud II (Triptych) ’ Edition One off Represented in the UAE by: Year ¡ Technique Print on perspex ( mm) Year ¡ www.superstudio.me Dimension £© x cm Artist Elspeth Diederix Edition / Artist Warffemius Studio Kalff Gallery / Manufacturer Galerie Stigter Year ¡ Gallery / Manufacturer Galerie Ramakers Product design van Doesburg Title Surfacing Cloud III (Triptych) ’ Contact details www.warffemius.info www.studiokalff.com Contact details www.elspethdiederix.com Technique Print on perspex ( mm) Title Compact’ © Title Vanishing stillife ’¨ Dimension £© x cm Technique Corten steel Studio Edward van Vliet Technique Photography Edition / Dimension £.© x £ x .© cm Conceptual interior and product design Dimension ª© x cm Year ¡ Edition ¡ / for the corporate sector Edition © + ¡ nr / © Year ¡© www.edwardvanvliet.com Year ¡ Artist Eva-Fiore Kovacovsky Gallery / Manufacturer Galerie STAMPA, Artist Jólan van der Wiel Artist Uta Eisenreich Basel Contact details www.jolanvanderwiel.com Gallery / Manufacturer courtesy of Ellen Contact details www.kovacovsky.com Title Gravity kandelaar Layout and interior design Embassy: de Bruijne Projects, Amsterdam Title Plate C Technique Made by magnetic forces Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom Contact details www.hier-eisenreich.org Technique C-Print Dimension x x ¡© cm of the Netherlands in cooperation with local Title A (appel) ’¨ Dimension © x cm Year ¡¡ architect Mr. Bashar Chebabi from G.A.M.O. Technique Photography Edition / Dimension ª. x ¡©.© cm Year ¡¨ Artist Machining Emotion team: visual Edition artist Ilona Lénárd, programmer-designers Year ¡¨ Artist Krista van der Niet Ana Maria Anton and Serban Bodea, Book credits Title Spot the differences Gallery / Manufacturer LhGWR architect Kas Oosterhuis Technique Photography Contact details www.kristavanderniet.nl Contact details www.machiningemotion.com Book coordination Embassy of the Kingdom Dimension ¡ x ©¨. cm Title Fruit ’ª Title Machining Emotion # of the Netherlands Edition Technique Ink jet printing on aluminium, Technique Acrylic marker on canvas Photography Erik and Petra Hesmerg Year ¡¨ laminated Dimension x ¨ cm www.hesmerg.nl Title Spot the differences ¡ Dimension © x © cm Edition /¡ Text Chris Reinewald Technique Photography Edition / Year ¡© www.chrisreinewald.nl Dimension ¡ x ©¨. cm Year ¡ª Design, typesetting and production Edition Title Untitled ’¨ Beukers Scholma Year ¡¨ Technique Ink jet printing on aluminium, www.beukers-scholma.nl Title Cutting edge laminated Companies Arabic Translation Embassy of the Kingdom Technique Photography Dimension © x © cm of the Netherlands Dimension ¡ x ¡¨.£ cm Edition / VAA.ONL bv the innovation studio of VAA Print Zwaan Printmedia Edition Year ¡¨ Master Planning, Architecture, www.zwaan.nl Year ¡ Design, Programming Artist Erwin Olaf www.vaa.onl Artist Guido Geelen Gallery / Manufacturer Flatland Gallery, Gallery / Manufacturer Galerie Ramakers Amsterdam BAM International Abu Dhabi LLC Den Haag Contact details flatlandgallery.com Construction Contact details www.guidogeelen.com erwinolaf.com www.baminternational.com www.galerieramakers.nl Title Fall – Still Life ’ª Title Untitled ’ Technique Photography Van Oord Gulf FZE Technique Sculpture, cast aluminium Dimension x cm Palm Jumeirah Island TBC Bluewater Island Year ¡ Edition / ¡ www.vanoord.com Year ¡ª Artist Ingrid van der Hoeven Mammoet FZE Gallery / Manufacturer Galerie Maurits Artist Henk Ovink Lifting, transporting, installing and van de Laar Title Pebbels decommissioning large and heavy structures Contact details www.ingridvanderhoeven.nl Technique Aluminium www.mammoet.com www.mauritsvandelaar.nl Dimension x © cm Year ¨¨