Khaleej Times, Online http://www.khaleejtimes.co.ae/ktarchive/240102/uae.htm Anuparra V. Chand Art show extols Dutch 'Golden Age AN EXHIBITION on Dutch arts from the 'Golden Age' (17th Century), featuring 14 Dutch artists, opened at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation's Main Hall on Sunday, and will conclude on January 29. Speaking to Khaleej Times following the inauguration, Jaap Christiaanse, Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the principal organisers of the event, said that this was the first of four different cultural events that the embassy was organising this year in the UAE to mark the 400th anniversary of the Dutch East India Company, the first multinational company in the world. He said that the UAE today had many things in common with the Netherlands of the Golden Age, such as the emphasis on economic diversification and trading, financial services and the importance given to art and culture. He pointed out that in the past 30 years, the UAE had surpassed the expectations of all by its level of development and economic progress, like in a Golden Age. It has also preserved its cultural heritage. He said the two countries also share a historic past, with Dutch settlers having come to the UAE way back in 1638, in addition to carrying on trade in silks, spices and pearls with the UAE. He recalled that the Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the Supreme Council, His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, also studied in Holland, which bound the UAE and his country in a lasting relationship. The exhibition, in collaboration with the Cultural Foundation and the Art Gallery Artipico, will open in Dubai on February 2, and will move to Sharjah after a week, where it will be show cased for two weeks. Joop Polder, Jeffrey Burger, Clemens Briels, Daan van Doorn, Bob Kemper, Mechteld Feijtel, Edwin Woute, Aboesleiman, Hank van Vessem, Paul Critchley and Marion Huijskes are the artists whose works are being exhibited at the event. Carla van den Heuvel-Ruseler, Anthon Hoornweg and Rene Vaandrager are exhibiting their sculptures at the show. Mr Christiaanse said that all the artists have been carefully chosen to represent a variety of styles. The paintings of Joop Polder, the Dutch royal painter, show a predilection for classical and ornate palatial structures, while those of Paul Critchley feature an abstract style of oil paints on wooden panelling. His juxtaposition of 'Night time' and 'Day time', show the same corner of an alley under natural and artificial light, while another titled 'Apartment' displays the haphazard details of an interiors of an apartment. Bob Kemper demonstrates his penchant for vibrant colours and bold strokes in his urban images, like 'Strong City' and 'Green City', the latter done in a more flowing style with the accent on verduous greens and yellows. Henk van Vessem brings out the abstract element of present-day life, with his disturbing splashes of red, in 'Red Poem' and the azure in 'Sea Pearls', making a statement on the conflict-ridden world of today. Clemens Briels, who has been selected the official painter of the Winter Olympics to be held in Salt Lake City in February, has a variety of colourful serigraphs on display, while those of Aboesleiman done with acrylic on panel, showed a dominant Persian idiom. Daan van Doorn, a portrait painter, who had been commissioned to paint the Queen of the Netherlands, said his favourites were those of children, which he had executed skillfully, using the mildest of pastel hues, working from photo 24/1/2002