Founder & Owner at Gallery Bell’Arte at the Kurhaus - The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
Do what your heart tells you. That is (very freely translated) the message that Peter Augustus de Génestet (1829 - 1861) gave the readers of his poem "Voice of the Heart" (from 1848). For Doret Huibers, the credo of the Dutch poet and theologian is still current. More than 25 years ago she started her Gallery Bell'Arte, which has been established in the Kurhaus since April 2015.Follow your heart. For Doret Huibers, this meant that she exchanged her work in health care in 1993 for that of gallery owner. Despite the uncertain times in which she took that step, she experienced a flying start with Gallery Bell'Arte. With Paulus Reinhard, Fons Bemelmans and Emile Cornelis, Nic Jonk was one of the first exhibitors. His successful exhibition in Maastricht not only contributed to the name recognition of the gallery, but also proved to Doret that she was on the right track with her original specialization (she initially only exhibited sculpture)."Everyone said I was crazy," the gallery owner remembers. "But the gallery ran very well from the first exhibition. I still follow my heart when I select an artist. We have had wonderful years in Maastricht." Doret moved her life's work Gallery Bell'Arte, which was built up in Maastricht, from the deep south to the Kurhaus. "The relocation to Scheveningen is based on, among other things, practical considerations. The Kurhaus is right next to Museum Beelden aan Zee. This results in a special synergy and offers good opportunities for various forms of cooperation. I am thinking of a sculpture boulevard between both top locations. The hotels of the Amrâth Group are often located in monumental buildings with great cultural-historical value. "In the lines from the last stanza of "Voice of the Heart", De Génestet touches the core of creation, which also applies to the works of art that Doret Huibers prefers to exhibits in her Bell'Arte gallery. They all seem to be touched by a divine hand or kissed by an angel.