COSMOPOLITAN MANILLE?S SOCIAL elite and art lovers came out in full force to celebrate and be part of Dutch art at its finest, when popular ace photographer Alex Van Hagen and his brother, top etching artist Han Van Hagen, held a joint exhibit, dubbed ?Van Hagen & Van Hagen: Brothers in Art,? palanggas.

Held at the mezzanine of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, the highly successful exhibit was superbly laid out by top architect and interior designer Anton Mendoza. It showcased a double Dutch serving of spectacular art featuring striking photographs by Alex and absolutely exquisite copper etchings by Han, a top etching artist in Europe no less, dahlings.

Chi-chi art lovers toured around the exhibit. They were treated to canapes and overflowing fine wine, thanks to Makati Shangri-La Hotel and Philippine Tatler, naturellement.

The ribbon-snipping ceremonies got the art show on a roll. Hotshot guests of honor were the Netherlands Ambassador to the Philippines Robert Vornis; media icon Jullie Yap-Daza (who by the way gave Alex his first job in the Philippines); and National Artists Ben Cabrera and Arturo Luz , who inspected the etchings of Han V. H. with a magnifying glass. The latter couldn?t say enough of how he was absolutely impressed with the fine art work as well as Alex?s black-and-white photos.

Other guests included master artist Juvenal Sanso and Dutch Embassy cultural attaché Paula Schindeler.

Prominent members of the Dutch community in Manila were present.

One couldn?t miss alta-sociedad personalities Kit Zobel and Maricris Zobel; Mary Prieto; lawyer Liza Marcos; Bonito Singson; our palanggas, Dennis Valdes and Tessa Prieto Vales; Francisco Ortigas; Cecille Reynoso and husband Jackie Atienza; Linda Panlilio, Mary Lou Lovina, Minnie Jentes, Marielle Santos, Victoria Preysler-Tuason, Patricia Panlilio, Gina Campos; Nonie and Bert Basilio; author Tonette Martel; gourmand personality of Sigalit Kitchen, Sigalit Djemal; Ed and Menchu Soriano; Lizette Cojuangco, Linda Legaspi-Rosal, Monette Guevarra and daughter; Honorary Consul to Ukraine Annet Ablan; Shu Uemura?s Tessa Dragon; and eye-catcher celebrity cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Vicki Belo.

Also present were Lifestyle?s top gals: Philippine Star?s Millet Mananquil, Inquirer?s Chelo Banal-Formoso, and Bulletin?s Ethel Timbol.

Also enjoying the exhibit were Donnie Ramirez, fab photographer Wig Tysmans; TV?s Kim Atienza and his wife, stylish Fely A.; Nena Tantoco of the Rustan?s Group, with Donnie Tantoco, Gigi Mabanta and Rhoda Campos-Aldanese; and Joy Wassmer of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Real Life Foundation, which was the beneficiary of the happening, was represented by Dr. Joey Castro and David Bonifacio, dahlings.

Representing the corporate world that graciously sponsored the event were KLM?s top personalities?commercial manager Joey Laurente, marketing manager Bingo Braganza, marketing person, workasonic Tess Zulueta, and corporate sales officer, the cyber-smart Dindin Monserrat; Ben Chan of the renowned Bench fashion house; Maite Gallego, managing director of world-class ING Private Banking; divinely adorable Divine Lee of GA Sky Suites; brilliant Patrick Reyno of Manila Jockey Club, Inc.; Irene Martel-Francisco of Philippine Tatler; Mari Lagdameo of the popular Dream 106.7; vivacious Judith Marie Dayrit; and Anton Corro of MasterCard, Smart Infinity, and Samsung.

The dual exhibit was a first for the Van Hagen brothers. It offered guests an exciting glimpse into the duo?s creativity and passion for the arts.

Ambassador Vornis thanked the Dutch brothers for sharing their art with the Philippines, describing them as ?remarkable.?

Han gave a brief candid talk on Alex and his art.

As a top Manila society photographer, Alex captures the images and ambience of glamorous events.

In the exhibit however, Alex turned his lenses away from famous personalities and events, to feature what he adores most: beautiful landscapes, still-lifes and nature at its best. The images were captured from his travels in Europe and the Philippines, palanggas.

Supported by his attractive wife Lia, who?s also an accomplished artist herself, Han Van Hagen showed everyone why he is one of Europe?s contemporary masters of copper etching.

One of the founders of The Etch-club of The Hague, Han, who was educated at the prestigious Royal Academy for the Arts and Design in The Hague, showcased exquisitely detailed, almost photographic, copper etchings of diverse subjects such as birds, sheep, cows and bulls, landscapes, and architecture.

So impressive were the collections of the brothers, dahlings, that by evening?s end, practically all the items on exhibit had been sold.

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