January 17, 2018
The Louvre Abu Dhabi
Designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel, this building is truly beautiful. From a distance, it is awesome. When close by, it is soothing and calm, emerging from the water. When you are inside and under the lattice dome, there is a wonderful cosseted feeling, both of the art, and for the visitor.
Just opened (November 2017) and bearing the name of the renowned French museum, which is ‘on loan’ for 30 years, the Louvre Abu Dhabi houses its own collection of art works, along with an agreed number of ‘loans’ from the Louvre Paris and several other French cultural institutions. The artefacts are beautifully presented - housed behind glass, or proudly open on podiums, and they are richly complemented by technology, with interactive touch screens and visual displays that engage and inform, in a balanced welcome manner. It’s a ‘universal museum’ curated for a diverse global audience, where the ‘journey’ is arranged chronologically, with artefacts from different cultures and civilisations sharing the same gallery space.
There are some wonderful pieces, from jewellery to ceramic plates and statues, big and small – the one with two heads near the entrance is captivating, as is the bust of Alexander the Great. There are masterpieces by Whistler, Monet, Cezanne and Gauguin that caught my eye, along with pieces by Yves Klein and Jackson Pollock.
The Ai Weiwei installation is a showstopper.
The galleries are housed in interconnecting cuboid units, which you only realise when you are outside of them, and under the dome. Wandering from gallery to gallery, there is a marvellous sense of discovery, as you peer out windows into inner courtyards and little waterways, not quite able to make sense of the overall configuration. Between galleries, there is room for reflection and pause, by way of ‘in between’ spaces with seating. This overall feeling of space is luxurious and adds to the appreciation of the exhibits.
Saadiyat Island stands alone, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi is the second stage in the build of a ‘cultural heart’ in the Arabian city, and will be joined in time by further museums and galleries, including a Guggenheim. This hub is an added attraction for any visitor to this city, and indeed Dubai which is relatively nearby, one hour by car. But for the residents of Abu Dhabi and the neighbouring emirates, it is a fantastic contemporary cultural experience on their doorstep.
Located about 40 minutes by taxi from the Grand Mosque and hotels along the Grand Canal and 20 mins from ‘downtown’ and the gold centre, this is definitely worth a visit.
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There are some wonderful pieces, from jewellery to ceramic plates and statues, big and small – the one with two heads near the entrance is captivating, as is the bust of Alexander the Great. There are masterpieces by Whistler, Monet, Cezanne and Gauguin that caught my eye, along with pieces by Yves Klein and Jackson Pollock.
