Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Louvre Abu Dhabi has announced its series of upcoming exhibitions, comprising a wide array of themes and collaborations. The 2024 – 2025 exhibitions will highlight the museum’s dedication to nurturing artistic dialogue and fostering a deeper appreciation for global cultures.
Alongside these exhibitions, the museum will curate a line-up of programmes and projects that will further enrich the visitor experience. These include educational workshops, interactive installations and events that encourage active participation and dialogue.
The fourth edition of Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here, in partnership with Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille, will be curated by Simon Njami, an independent curator, lecturer, writer and art critic who has curated many international exhibitions showcasing African contemporary artists. This year’s edition is inspired by the concept of Awakenings, and will be expanding to North Africa, alongside the GCC. This expansion is attributed to the expertise of curator Simon Njami in the region, reflecting the museum’s commitment to showcasing diverse artistic voices. Shortlisted artists will have an opportunity to showcase their site-specific monumental artworks at Louvre Abu Dhabi. One winner will be chosen, by a jury panel, as the recipient of the esteemed Richard Mille Art Prize in December 2024.
In partnership with Musée d’Orsay, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances exhibition will build upon the success of its exhibition Impressionism: Pathways to Modernity. This exhibition will delve into the period known as Post-Impressionism, focusing specifically on the years between 1886 and 1905. These two decades were a time of immense artistic innovation and experimentation, marking the transition from Impressionism to the explosive emergence of the fauves at the Salon d’Automne.
One of the highlights of this exhibition is Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom. This artwork, which depicts van Gogh’s bedroom in the Yellow House in Arles, where he set up his studio and lived from September 1888, represents the essence of Post-Impressionism and its departure from traditional artistic conventions. Other key highlights from the Arab world are two masterpieces by Egyptian artist Georges Hanna Sabbagh: The artist and his family at La Clarté (1920) and The Family; The Sabbagh in Paris (1921).
In partnership with musée du quai Branly, Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power celebrates the history and cultural heritage of African royalty by showcasing carefully selected material extracts from various regions of the continent. With a collection of around 300 objects, including external loans, this exhibition will deliver a diverse and intriguing exploration of the culture and beliefs that are intertwined with the lives of African kings and queens.
Among the many unique artworks set to be on display is an Ife Head from Nigeria (12th – 14th century) on loan from musée du quai Branly. The exhibition aims to provide visitors with an enlightening experience that will deepen their understanding and appreciation of African royalty.
In addition to the exhibitions, Louvre Abu Dhabi will relaunch its White Canvas project, which takes the museum’s artistic vision to new heights by utilising the museum’s architecture as a blank canvas, to transform outdoor areas of the museum into an external exhibition space through temporary art projections. Extending the gallery space into the museum’s park and surroundings for an artistic experience, the museum will become an even more integral part of the city’s artistic landscape. White Canvas will feature a range of exhibitions and happenings via art projections, inviting visitors to engage with art in a unique and immersive way.
Louvre Abu Dhabi is set to unveil an array of new acquisitions and loans in its permanent galleries for the year. These additions include ancient, modern and contemporary pieces from around the world. A significant highlight and Islamic artwork is the Pyxis in the name of Al-Mughira, on loan from the department of Islamic Arts at Musée du Louvre.
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s upcoming season will also offer a diverse range of cultural and educational programmes to complement the exhibitions. From interactive workshops and lectures to guided tours, the informative and engaging event will provide visitors of all ages and backgrounds with a deeper understanding of the showcased artworks.
The exhibitions will highlight the museum’s dedication to nurturing artistic dialogue and fostering a deeper appreciation for global cultures
