The Louvre Abu Dhabi

[bixaorellana]

" ... the first universal museum in the Middle East ..."

"The curators are not out to create a mini-Louvre but rather a new museum melding two cultures and two traditions."



See the entire article here.

cross-posted in Asia

[Deleted]

Very controversial in France

1. "France is only doing it to get money from 'those people'."
2. "The art will be censored."
3. "What a waste of time and effort!"

I would like to think that there is a grain of truth in only the first 2 statements and not at all in the last one.

[kerouac2]

Just when we had just about given up hope, the new Louvre will be inaugurated on November 11, 2017.

Opening festivities

Franco-Lebanese superstar Ibrahim Maalouf is among the artists who will be performing for the event: Ibrahim Maalouf

[kerouac2]

Louvre Abu Dhabi, a Cultural Cornerstone Where East Meets West

[bixaorellana]

Wow -- thanks for that! Really interesting article and the pictures certainly make the museum look dazzling*. It's fascinating to see how each logical reservation (cultural and political differences, safety of the artwork, etc.) were addressed. Yes, France's museums are benefiting financially, but they're definitely not stinting on the pieces they are sharing -- really, the big guns of art history.

* A grumble: I cannot get the hang of those NYTimes 360° video thingies & wish they'd just use normal ones.

[kerouac2]

[bixaorellana]

Outstanding!!!

I would so much like to experience that building and of course the collection is dazzling.

Also, I now know the word "starchitect".

[kerouac2]

One thing I find interesting about the building is of course the lattice dome, which uses the same concept as the lattice screen covering the MuCEM in Marseille. As we already saw in Marseille, it is a really outstanding way to protect from the sun while still letting some rays through.

[bixaorellana]

Yes, exactly! I did think of the MuCem immediately when I saw the pictures of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The operative word is "protect" -- the museum in Marseille made me feel grateful for the protection, rather than closed in, with the light and water dazzle still being allowed in.

[tod2]

A magnificent achievement with many hoops to hop through on both sides I bet.
I just have the slightest niggle at the back of my mind - are these most precious objects really safe in the Middle East...I suppose if The Louvre thinks so then it must be so.