Dutch Art in Japan

Seventy-five art works from some of the Netherlands finest and most famous artists from the 17th century to the present day are currently on display in a special exhibition in Tokyo. The exhibition ‘From Rembrandt and Van Gogh to Contemporary Artists: The Glory of Dutch Arts’, is at Tokyo’s 15th Charity Art Collection and all the proceeds will be donated to organisations such as the Japanese Red Cross and the local NHK Public Welfare Organisation.

ING is one of the joint sponsors and many artworks from the ING Collection are in the exhibition. “The purpose of this charity art event is to present an historical overview of Dutch figurative art to the Japanese public and to provide Dutch artists with the opportunity to build a name in Japan,” says Annabelle Birnie, one of the exhibition’s curators and head of ING’s Art Management. “We feel it’s important to share Dutch works of art with an international audience.”

Art works from several other Dutch institutions such as the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, De Nederlandsche Bank (the Dutch central bank) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs are also on display. Some of the works of art were selected to show how Japanese culture has influenced and still influences Dutch artists.

The exhibition was opened by His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi, the brother of Akihito, Emperor of Japan and runs from 4-30 August.