Female Voices in Art: Nynke van der Ven - van Wijngaarden, Art Historian and Researcher at Vanderven Oriental Art

Nynke van der Ven - van Wijngaarden (b.1968, Zaandam, The Netherlands) is an art historian and responsible for research and communication at Vanderven Oriental Art, international specialist dealers in Chinese art and ceramics. After school in England, she studied for an M.A. in Art History at Leiden University, writing a thesis on early interiors. Her first job was in London working for a specialist arts PR agency, going on to join the TEFAF Maastricht fair organisation in the press department. Following a period working as an event manager at a private bank, she joined Vanderven in 2005. Since 2012 she primarily focussed on the academic aspect of the business, researching and writing scholarly catalogues and regularly attending specialist diploma courses. She is on the board of the Dutch Antique Dealers Association (KVHOK) and is on a mission to reignite the love antique objects amongst the younger generations.

Could you tell us something about your role in the art world?

Apart from being an academic art historian, I am involved in the commercial side of the art business. This puts me in a unique position to view all aspects of the art world, trying to build bridges between them. By uniting forces with museums and academics, we can form a stronger and unique eco-system for encouraging the love art and antiques.

2 What did you enjoy about being a part of this project?

I am very proud of being a woman in today’s art world, and have been following this unique project since its inception. I am truly honoured to be the company of so many incredible women. I love the diversity of the roles each plays in the various aspects of the art world: from patrons and dealers to curators and scholars a great sense of belonging to this community.

3 Do you have a favourite artist?

Since my studies I have always been a particular aficionado of the decorative arts and in particular the function they had in of everyday life and interiors. Even though some objects have a known maker, sadly there are so many more from the hands of anonymous craftsmen, who have made truly incredible objects in the course of history. Chinese porcelain and pottery is just one such example. So my favourite artists are these mysterious craftsmen who have given us so many joyous things to love.

4 What is your earliest memory involving art?

When I was young we lived in Peru, and I clearly remember seeing the beautiful Incan artefacts there. A fascinating testament to the country’s ancient history and its people. As long as I remember, I have always enjoyed beautiful things and studying them in the context of social history.

5 Do you have any special thoughts about the position of women in the art world ?

I think in the past, working with art was considered a ‘softer’ profession, which fortunately has now completely changed. Presently, there here are very talented women leading major museums in the Netherlands; a testament to what women can achieve in the art world. This photo project attests to the fact that there are so many interesting women working with and in art. This changed dynamic, will no doubt give new insights and perspectives in the years to come.

6 What are you wearing, and is there a story behind it ?

I have chosen Chinese silk, as this is rich and ancient culture keeps opening my eyes and is teaching me new things every day. Chinese art is so diverse in its use of materials, decorations and sheer mind blowing craftsmanship – it never bores. The multi –layered symbolism and hidden meanings also keep me interested – it’s like learning a new secret language. And I am holding a Pottery Figure of a Court Lady, China, Tang Dynasty (618-907).

7 What impact has the current health crisis on your daily practice ?

The art market has been more or less dormant since March 2020 after COVID 19 hit Europe and TEFAF Maastricht closed its doors for us prematurely. We are now coming to terms with this new reality and the fact, that in the short term there will not be any large scale international art events or much international travel. Even though we are all now digitising our collections, I don’t believe ‘online viewing rooms’ will ever truly replace experiencing art in real life. So we are now searching for ways that allow live exchanges to take place, such as small exhibitions and pop-ups.

8 Is it changing your views on Art?

I think our views on art evolve over time anyway, changing for everyone individually with each experience and increased knowledge. This is why it’s so important for me to keep learning and gaining new insights! The current crisis is certainly one of the factors in changing perspectives.

I also believe that art, expression and creativity are actually fundamental to all humans. The history of art started with the cave drawings of ancient civilisations, and has developed from there to digital art, video installations and photography today. Creativity and artistry developed over thousands of years simultaneously in all parts of the world, sometimes inspiring or influencing each other. Art, no matter when or where it was made, has always been a magnificent way of expressing emotions, telling stories and showing skills.

9 Are you creating new initiatives and ways of working ?

We still believe, one of the underlying tasks of an art dealer, is to promote the all-round appreciation of art and antiques in the long term. Not only to attract new buyers, but also to generate enthusiasm and foster art appreciation amongst the next generation. To that end we are always thinking about new ways to communicate by telling the story of objects and sharing our enthusiasm and knowledge.

We had already invested in a new website and have become even more active on social media - which will certainly play a key role in all future developments. Our recent collaboration with an interior designer lead to the refurbishment of our gallery spaces into a contemporary interiors, with the idea of bringing our objects to life for a next generation and audience. We believe this is a vital part of keeping our business alive for the coming years. We will also be increasing the amount of small scale in-house events, welcoming people to our gallery.

In the meantime, we need to be on our toes and keep ourselves well informed on the developments, and hope that we will have art fairs again soon, perhaps a few less in the over crowded calendar!