By creating we play with our understanding of basics. We de-construct, we theorise and we create new. We manipulate to create advantage. A mechanism is a device designed to transform input forces and movement into a desired set of output forces and movement. Our bodies, arms, brain, legs, voices, etc. becomes mechanisms for movement.  The combination of force and movement defines power, and we are designed to manage power in order to achieve a desired set of forces and movement. In recent years the idea that life can be reduced to chemistry and physics has become very prominent in the life sciences. According to this idea, all living organisms, including human beings, are simply aggregates of molecules interacting in accordance with chemical and physical laws. This conception of life has found particular emphasis in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology, where the study of DNA, RNA, and the processes of protein synthesis have lent credence to the picture of the living cell as a molecular machine. In other words: Everything works together as a machine. Everything fits. Everything moves together. Everything needs to find balance. Everything works automatically… Through moving images we have caught a glimpse of the physical laws, and a new perspective on how to perceive life and ourselves. No more hiding. Every wrinkle, spot, flaw or perfection is captured and dismantled. It started becoming a manipulation of the mechanical. The body of work is to draw attention to the fact that we have gone from capturing and copying movement to analysing the totality of how things move and work… About the artist Having completed his BA(FA) Honors in 2001 through UNISA and having exhibited internationally and locally in numerous solo and group exhibitions, Riaan van Zyl continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art and classical techniques and concepts. Since the start of Riaan’s career, he has taken primary inspiration from everyday, ordinary ideas and his perception of things around him, effectively capturing its fascination and value with a de-constructed eye.  At first glance his work looks abstract and confusing but the results have their own very personal syntax, punctuation and orchestration.  They become almost a performance of movement rather than a standard drawing. Exhibition opening – 22 May 2014.  The exhibition  runs until 30 May 2014. For more on the artist visit: www.riaanvanzyl.com    

The Maurits Huis Museum one of the most beautiful museums of the world and home to world-famous paintings like Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson, The Bull by Paulus Potter, and Fabritius’ The Goldfinch located in the centre of The Hague will be opening its doors to visitors in June after a two year renovation and expansion period. For the first time the Mauritshuis Organisation is offering special memberships to The Hague’s International residents. Membership of the “International Friends of the Mauritshuis” offers year-round access to the museum, but also to exclusive exhibitions and events, previews, lectures, a cocktail party, trips and to different activities all in English that will take place almost on a monthly basis .

These events will be focussed on educational and entertainment value and meets the interests of different age groups. Subscribes before 1st June, will also be offered a special preview of the museum before the opening.

International Friends of the Mauritshuis The Mauritshuis is largely dependent on donations. The Friends of the Mauritshuis play a crucial role as their donations ensure the purchase of new additions to the collection and the organisation of special exhibitions. The Friends have made significant financial contributions to make the purchase of important paintings possible, like Rembrandt’s Portrait of an Elderly Man, Jacob van Ruisdael’s View of Bentheim Castle, Rubens’ Old Woman and Boy with Candles and more recently Clara Peeter’s Still Life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels. Lots of Friends also play a key role in the museum as volunteers. They run the museum shop and its proceeds are used to support the museum. Fees are: €50 per year for 1 adult/ €65 per year for a couple on the same address / €75 per year for a family with two children up to 18 years. If you are interested in joining these groups, please contact our website or the foundation directly: vrienden@mauritshuis.nl.

A public outdoor photo exhibition on the protection of cultural heritage in times of conflict and on the UNESCO 1954 Hague Convention Occasion May 2014 marks the 60th anniversary of the UNESCO 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Event of an Armed Conflict. In 2014 the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO, in collaboration with Blue Shield NL, the Peace Palace Library, Flemish National Commission for UNESCO and Heritage Agency Flanders an international photo exhibition portraying the impact of war on cultural heritage paying special attention to the importance of heritage protection in times of armed conflict. The Commission organizes a unique outdoor photo exhibition ‘Culture under Attack’. This exhibition focuses on the impact of armed conflict on societies and their heritage. The photos selected for this exhibition show scenes from recent conflicts and the devastating level of destruction of cultural heritage. They emphasize the resilience of the affected societies and their efforts for reconstruction. UNESCO 1954 Convention The convention was drawn up and adopted during the intergovernmental conference of UNESCO at the Peace Palace in the spring of 1954 in The Hague. The international acknowledgement of the need for such an agreement followed the destructions of the First and Second World Wars. By ratifying the Convention and its two Protocols, Member States of UNESCO created rules to protect cultural properties during armed conflicts. The Convention was the first international binding treaty in this field, and it emphasizes the importance of a common responsibility for the protection of cultural properties. It also refers to the notion of ‘heritage of all mankind’. Currently, over 126 Member States of UNESCO have ratified the convention. Worldwide, thousands of blue-shields, attached to the facades of buildings of great historic, cultural, religious and social significance, and to other cultural properties that hold valuable collections (such as museums, archives and libraries), refer to the existence of this international agreement. Despite its importance, the larger public is often unaware of the existence of the UNESCO 1954 Convention. This needs to be changed, as today, the Hague Convention is the only, and therefore the most important binding international instrument for the protection of cultural heritage in times of armed conflict. The exhibition will be shown from May 10 until June 15, 2014 in The Hague on the Lange Vijverberg, next to the Hofvijver, in the city centre of The Hague. For more information, please contact the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO at +31 70 42 60 263 or send an e-mail to kspitz@unesco.nl  

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After the turmoil at the end of January in the emerging countries, unrest started around Ukraine. At the same time the global economy improves in most regions worldwide. Are you wondering what these developments mean for you as an investor? And what ABN AMRO’s opinion is on investments?  On behalf of ABN AMRO we would like to invite you to our Investments Seminar on May 21th 2014, 19h at Museum Corpus “Reis door de mens” Willem Einthovenstraat 1, 2342 BH. Investments in 2014: The opportunities and the expectations After a short review of 2013 our guest speaker Ben Steinebach, Head of ABN AMRO Investment Strategy, will elaborate on the investment market. You will get answers to questions: ‘’What are the opportunities?’’ and ‘’What is my best strategy I can follow?’’ Options of Portfolio Asset Management Due to the current changes on the financial markets and domestic law, ABN AMRO is continuously renewing it’s investment offers. By the first of January 2014 we have renewed our investment products significantly. What does this mean for your portfolio and what are your options? Are you considering investing your savings? Do you want more return on your savings? Daniel Lof, Head of the Portfolio Asset Management Department, would like to inform you about Portfolio Asset  Management. Besides learning more about Portfolio Asset Management you can also meet your account team of the ABN AMRO International Client Desk The Hague or the ABN AMRO International Client Desk Amsterdam. To apply for the ABN AMRO Seminar Investments send an email with name, account number and number of people attending to (events.icsdh@nl.abnamro.com) .