The wonders of the galaxy are the focus of a new family exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Launching on Thursday at the in-house Children’s Museum, Picturing the Cosmos is an interactive mix of artworks spanning thousands of years, with acquisitions from the soon-to-be-built Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and a playground resembling the rugged red terrain of Mars.
The National was one of the first to explore the exhibition. Here's what to expect.
'Building a bridge between the UAE and space'
Running for two years and created in collaboration with the UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, the exhibition hopes to inspire the young about the endless possibilities of space, while sharing the galaxy’s role as a source of inspiration to previous civilisations.
“We are proud to have a unique exhibition that provides young minds with opportunities to discover, imagine and make sense of the world around them based on observation of artworks and interactive experiences,” says Ugo Bertoni, a director at the museum.
“Through this exhibition, we are building a bridge between the museum, art history, science and the UAE vision of space exploration.”
A special welcome from space
Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi greets visitors as they enter.
In a specially recorded message from the International Space Station, Al Neyadi urges visitors to relish the experience on offer.
“On this journey, you will discover the universe and ways of depicting it in arts across different times and cultures,” he says. “Today you are on a date with an experience that combines education and entertainment at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. I hope you enjoy this exhibition.”
Space on screen
Upon entry, visitors are encouraged to register their name, age and preferred language to receive a barcoded paper bracelet to access the games and quizzes within the exhibition.
Spread across three floors, Picturing the Cosmos aims to take visitors on a journey from Earth to the red planet, with a stop at the International Space Station.
The first floor, titled Observation of the Sky, has an ethereal nocturnal setting with nearly 20 pieces showcasing how the sky and stars were measured throughout human history.
Joseph Paul Mesle’s Moonrise Over Laita, a loan from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, is a dreamy watercolour depicting a luminescent moon hovering over a gloomy landscape.
In addition to the globes from 17th and 18th century Pakistan and France, as well as sundials from ancient Egypt and 19th century Japan, there is some welcome multimedia content.
A screen documents how space has been featured on screen, such as in Georges Melies’s groundbreaking 1902 film A Trip to the Moon and the popular 1970s Japanese anime series Grendizer.
“What we want to show is how the sky has always been a source of inspiration for many artists," says Anne Hauguel who, along with Louvre Abu Dhabi colleague Amine Kharchach, curated the exhibition.
One of the oldest rocks in the world
Inspired by the International Space Station, the second floor, under the theme The Planets and the Constellations from Earth, takes visitors out of this world.
Resembling the command post from Star Trek, the room encourages visitors to contemplate the planets and constellations surrounding us.
The space has some memorable displays, such as Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri’s Sokol space suit.
There are also two collections from the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, fragments of a lunar meteorite found in north-west Africa and another meteorite found in the Australian town of Murchison in 1969.
Speaking of the latter, Kharchach says the rock is estimated to be seven billion years old. “It is probably one of the oldest artefacts on Earth and it comes directly from one of the asteroid belts, so it contains elements that are prior to the solar system itself," he says.
Mission to Mars
The third and final floor, with the theme Space Navigation and Mars Exploration, invites children to go on a Mars mission.
“We want people to think about the future and what is coming next when it comes to space exploration,” says Hauguel.
“So, Mars is the ideal place because this is what the UAE is exploring and collecting more data, as we have seen recently with the UAE's Hope probe.”
Children are encouraged to prepare for their own Mars mission through a range of activities held in an outdoor play area, such as choosing the right vegetables to take on board and maintaining your balance while jumping on a small trampoline.
Gaming is the future of museums
Picturing the Cosmos reflects the latest evolution of children’s museum curation through its prevalent use of interactive gaming.
From the barcoded bracelet, which allows guests to collect points and adjust the task’s difficulty levels to the relevant age, to the puzzles and quizzes, Hauguel and Kharchach say this is the future.
“We have noticed that with some of our previous exhibitions, children may miss some of the artwork,” Hauguel says. “So we really thought hard about how to use storytelling and multimedia to really channel and focus their attention to the artwork.”
Kharchach agrees, stating such bells and whistles should never deter from the real goal, which is appreciating the artwork and exhibitions.
“Gamification is a means to engagement. Using storytelling and other interactive approaches will help us reach that goal,” he says.
“This can be the most challenging part of creating because it requires us to think of it holistically, from the artwork selected to the visual clues, but it will result in children having a more powerful experience."
Picturing the Cosmos opens to the public on Thursday and runs until June 2025. More information is available at louvreabudhabi.ae
Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE%20SPECS
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Read more about the coronavirus
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Astra%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdallah%20Abu%20Sheikh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%20investment%20and%20development%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food