The Louvre Abu Dhabi is turning four on Thursday. In the lead up to the anniversary, the museum has been putting on display a total of 56 new acquisitions and 59 new loans in its galleries.
The acquisitions include Jean-Honore Fragonard’s The Bolt, one of the French artist’s most famous works, a dramatic symbol of the libertine spirit of the 18th century. There are also works by Auguste Rodin such as The Call to Arms, which honours the courage of ordinary citizens defending France against the German invasion during the Franco-Prussian War. There is also Monument of Victor Hugo, a bronze sculpture cast on the 150th anniversary of the French author’s death.
Among the latest loans are Claude Monet’s Houses of Parliament, Sun Breaking Through the Fog, and Pleasure Boats, which showcase the development of the artist’s practice and style across different periods. Also on view are Frederic Bazille’s The Pink Dress, Jackson Pollock’s The Moon-Woman Cuts the Circle and Vassily Kandinsky’s Gelb-Rot-Blau.
In the past year, the museum has showcased two international exhibitions – Abstraction and Calligraphy: Towards a Universal Language and Dragon and Phoenix: Centuries of Exchange between Chinese and Islamic Worlds – as well as reopened its Children’s Museum.
Louvre Abu Dhabi: Dragon and Phoenix - in pictures
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The interactive bestiary at the Dragon and Phoenix – Centuries of Exchange between Chinese and Islamic Worlds exhibition at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, inaugurated the Dragon and Phoenix exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Photo: Louvre Abu Dhabi -
The new exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi features diverse artworks, including paintings, silverware, ceramic, glassware, manuscripts and luxury fabrics. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Terracotta figures based on characters one would meet along the Silk Road. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Bowl with lid and platter with Arabic inscriptions from China's Jiangxi Province dating back to the 18th century. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Guilhem Andre, chief curator at Louvre Abu Dhabi, explains the history behind the artefacts. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Dragon and Phoenix showcases several Chinese crafts that were specifically made for the Islamic traders. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The exhibition was organised with the Musee national des arts asiatiques – Guimet, popularly known as the Musee Guimet. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The exhibition, which opens to the public on October 6, showcases the cultural and artistic exchange between the Chinese and Islamic civilisations from the 8th to the 18th century. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Funerary figures from northern China. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
An alloy basin with the name of an officer of the sultan Al-Malik Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun from Egypt or Syria, late 13th early 14th century. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
A sculpture of a fabulous animal from China - Liao dynasty (907/ 916-1125) - in chased and gilded silver. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Panel with poetic inscription by Hafez, a 14th-century Persian poet and writer, from Damascus dating to the 17th century. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
A Quran by an anonymous Chinese copyist dating to the 17th century, ink and gold on paper. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
'Ata Malik Djoveni, Tarikh-e djahan gusha' (History of the Conqueror of the World) copied by Rashid Khwafi from Baghdad 1290. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Ceramics embellished with intricate cobalt blue designs. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Right, a cup with dragon-shaped handle from China, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) in hammered embossed gold with chasing. Left, a larger, more bulbous variation made of black jade. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The Dragon and Phoenix exhibit embodies two cultures - China, the dragon, and Islamic world, the phoenix. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
There are more than 200 artefacts spread across five sections. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
This year also marked the launch of the museum’s first contemporary art prize in collaboration with Swiss watch brand Richard Mille, the shortlisted proposals for which will be exhibited on Thursday, November 18.
On its anniversary, Louvre Abu Dhabi has also opened its resource centre to the public. The centre will function as a resource for students, researchers, professors and the general public seeking to learn more about the museum’s private collection, as well as materials, documentation and information on preservation and restoration projects are housed within.
There is also a library of 5,000 books on the museum’s collection and art history, with resources available in Arabic, English and French. Entry is free to the centre, and visitors can collect their complimentary passes at the ticketing desk. It is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 5pm.
National Day celebrations
For UAE National Day, the museum has put together a public programme featuring a special display of artworks from the UAE that highlight the union of the country. Inside the museum’s permanent galleries, dedicated displays of UAE artefacts, as well as loans from various institutions in the country, will be on view.
For the presentation, Louvre Abu Dhabi has teamed up with its nine national partners, including the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Al Ain Museum, Dubai Municipality, Sharjah Archaeology Authority, Ajman National Museum, Umm Al Quwain National Museum and National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah.
Sharp Tools, a film by artist and poet Nujoom Alghanem, will also be screened as part of the Golden Jubilee programming. In addition, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s recognisable dome will be the site of an audio-visual presentation reflecting on 50 years of the UAE.
The family-friendly event, priced at Dh150 for entry, will also feature roller skating sessions in collaboration with Dubai skating group Madrollers and a performance by DJ Bliss playing Khaleeji music.
