logo
Second ‘Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection: Exhibition-Dossier' unveiled

Second ‘Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection: Exhibition-Dossier' unveiled

Al Etihad20-05-2025

20 May 2025 13:21
ABU DHABI (WAM) The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) unveiled the second Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection: Exhibition-Dossiers, showcasing historically significant masterpieces which further highlight Abu Dhabi's position as a world-leading cultural centre.The latest exhibition in the series brings together important works that capture key moments in the history of art, offering rare public access to masterpieces that encourage a deeper understanding of art.Aiming to preserve and present prominent works, the Abu Dhabi Collection invites art lovers and scholars alike to immerse themselves in the exhibition and contribute to the national and international art discourse.Among the highlights is the 18th-century pair by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin.While commissioned together, the two paintings – Still Life with Musical Instruments, Basket of Fruit and Guitar and Musical Instruments and Parrot – were separated into different collections in 2014 and have now been reunited for the first time since.The pieces exemplify Chardin's mastery of light, texture, and composition while inviting the appreciation of music, nature, and the beauty of everyday life.Offering a compelling contrast is Jean-Michel Basquiat's vibrant work, El Gran Espectaculo (The Nile).The triptych, a three-panel painting created at the height of the artist's career in 1983, explores complex historical themes through Basquiat's distinctive style.The launch of the second exhibition reaffirms DCT Abu Dhabi's commitment to protecting cultural legacies and building a world-class collection for future generations.
Guided tours will also be offered to engage audiences and amplify the stories behind each piece, fostering lasting connections with these works of art.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Timeframe: Ahead of F1: The Movie's release, a history of films and shows shot on Yas Island
Timeframe: Ahead of F1: The Movie's release, a history of films and shows shot on Yas Island

The National

timea day ago

  • The National

Timeframe: Ahead of F1: The Movie's release, a history of films and shows shot on Yas Island

In 2014, Top Gear filmed an episode for its 21st season on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The motoring show's co-host Richard Hammond showcased the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6 across a range of locations, including Liwa Desert and the Emirates National Auto Museum. But the highlight was when he drove the brand-new car through the lazy river at Yas Waterworld. Hammond returned just a month later to take a Porsche 918 Spyder for a spin on Yas Marina Circuit, for another episode of Top Gear. These marked some of Yas Island's earliest moments in showbiz, and the spotlight has been shining on the entertainment location ever since. Case in point: parts of F1: The Movie, the highly anticipated racing film starring Brad Pitt, were shot at Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The capital is also set to host the regional premiere of the film. In it, Pitt plays a former Formula One driver whose once-promising career was cut short by a devastating crash in the 1990s. In his 50s, he's lured back to the track by a former teammate who owns a struggling team on the brink of collapse. Doubling as the set of F1: The Movie marks Yas Island 's latest high-profile turn in the entertainment industry. Over the years, it has served as a filming location for both international and regional movies and TV shows. In 2019, The Ellen Show featured the destination when host Ellen DeGeneres gifted her entire audience a six-day trip to Abu Dhabi. MasterChef India brought a 2024 episode to the capital, with contestants competing in challenges around Saadiyat and Yas islands to secure a spot in the grand finale. The island has also made its mark on reality TV. On Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa – the Indian version of Strictly Come Dancing – judges Farah Khan and Malaika Arora, along with hosts Rithvik Dhanjani and Gauahar Khan, were shown enjoying various attractions around Yas Island, which also served as the grand prize destination for the show's winners. As for film, Yas Marina Circuit featured in Furious 7 in 2015, while the broader Yas Island area has been showcased in Bollywood action thriller Race 3 (2018); Hollywood flick 6 Underground (2019) starring Ryan Reynolds; and the penultimate film in the Mission: Impossible series, Dead Reckoning (2023), with Tom Cruise. The destination even had a starring role in Al Eid Eiden, a Saudi-Emirati comedy in which a family go to Yas Island for their Eid holiday. Upcoming releases that were filmed at the location include Bollywood action film War 2 and Hollywood thriller Now You See Me 3.

When Mickey Mouse first arrived in Arabia - a century before Disneyland Abu Dhabi
When Mickey Mouse first arrived in Arabia - a century before Disneyland Abu Dhabi

The National

timea day ago

  • The National

When Mickey Mouse first arrived in Arabia - a century before Disneyland Abu Dhabi

Mickey Mouse is ready to make his way to the Middle East after Disney announced plans to open its first new theme park development for 15 years on Yas Island. The much-anticipated attraction is set to swing open its doors in the early 2030s, delivering a boost to tourism, jobs and the wider economy as well as a sprinkling of family-friendly magic. The grand opening of Disneyland Abu Dhabi will come about a century after the world's most famous mouse first arrived on Gulf Shores. It was back in 1932 that the short animated cartoon Mickey in Arabia was brought to the screen, in one of the earliest productions of its kind from Walt Disney. Mickey in Arabia is seven minutes long and in black and white. This version of Mickey differs from the one used today. His earliest cartoon was Steamboat Willie in 1928. There are some things that Disney got right about life in the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf. Sand dunes. Palm trees. Camels. As for the rest? Well, to be charitable, not much was known about the region to the general public in the West. The plot involves Mickey, voiced by Disney himself, visiting a 'typical' Arab town, while his nemesis Pete makes a doomed attempt to kidnap Minnie. Perceptions of the Arab world as viewed from Hollywood included snake charmers, the fez or tarboosh, and belly dancers. The people are depicted in a crude style that modern audiences would not recognise. This orientalist view of not just the Arab world but the entire Middle East was narrow. The region was seen by the western public as exotic, mysterious, perhaps even dangerous thanks to films like The Sheik, starring Rudolph Valentino, and songs such as The Sheik of Araby, performed by artists including Django Reinhart and the Beatles. Arab children loved the Mouse, though, and from the late 1950s Mickey featured in Arabic comics, in particular Megalet Mickey (Mickey Magazine) by Dar Al Hillel, published in Cairo under licence from Disney and distributed across the Middle East. For one cover, released around the time of the 1964 Arab Summit, he is shown in a variety of dress, including keffiyehs, turbans, djellaba and what appears to be a military uniform. In other versions, Mickey was shown playing the rababa, a stringed instrument, making kunefe, and celebrating the Prophet Mohammed's birthday in front of a building on where the banner 'There is No God But Allah' appears. A special Ramadan issue was published every year. By the 1980s, the Disney corporation was beginning to explore bigger collaborations with the Middle East and in particular the Gulf countries. The Epcot theme park in Florida, opened in 1982, originally envisage a UAE pavilion in its World Showcase, although this was not realised. Ten years later, Disney opened Disneyland Paris, then called EuroDisney. The park struggled to attract visitors in its early years and was making heavy losses. A rescue by Saudi billionaire Prince Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud involved a $345 million injection into the theme park in exchange for a 24 per cent stake. The economic potential of the Gulf could not be clearer. Moving forward, it emerged this year that Disney had begun exploring the possibility of a theme park in Abu Dhabi as early as 2017 with a pitch from the Miral Group, the entertainment and leisure company that developed Ferrari World, Seaworld, Yas Waterworld and others on Yas Island. Bob Iger, Disney chief executive, said that negotiations began in earnest in February, concluding in the announcement of a Disney theme park in May. Disneyland Abu Dhabi, he says will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati.

Why Mamma Mia! still resonates globally 26 years after its West End stage debut
Why Mamma Mia! still resonates globally 26 years after its West End stage debut

The National

time2 days ago

  • The National

Why Mamma Mia! still resonates globally 26 years after its West End stage debut

With over 25 years of success trailing its reputation across the globe, Mamma Mia! hits the stage at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena for the first time, with heart and splendour to spare. On opening night, fans of the musical arrived in island-inspired outfits centred on the Greece-set show, and danced in the aisles when the well-known Abba songs kicked into gear. Richard Standing, who plays Sam Carmichael – one of protagonist Sophie Sheridan's three dads – says the show is still relevant 26 years after it debuted in London's West End because its themes resonate with everyone. 'The fact that it's about old people who need to find love, young people finding all forms of love, and sorting out complications of what a family can be – these things are universal, they speak to everyone,' Standing tells The National. Over the past two decades, Standing has seen an evolution in Mamma Mia! 's audience. When it started, he saw mostly young women bringing along their often-reluctant partners, both of whom would always end up dancing together. But after the film adaptation, starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried released in 2008, the target audience grew far more diverse, attracting men and women young and old. 'That film did the show a lot of favours. It brought six-year-olds, 16, 36, 66 and 96-year-olds. I've seen four or five generations of people,' says Standing. What makes it more special is the cast's connection with the audience during the performance. 'You can't beat live theatre. You can't beat that feeling. It's indescribable,' says Ellie Kingdon, who plays Sophie Sheridan. 'I hope it's going to be received well here. We've never been to Abu Dhabi before, but the vibe we have already is amazing,' she adds. For an international performance, which has staged 50 productions in several languages and over 400 cities, Mamma Mia! 's cast have been at the forefront of absorbing cultural nuances in their audience's behaviour during the show. Standing, who has performed in over 40 countries, including twice in Dubai and once in Amman, says the varying reactions keep things fun. 'The best bit about an international tour is the people. In the end, everybody loves the story, because who doesn't love a story about love? Love is the answer. 'The things that we share are so much greater than the things that are different,' he adds. 'Thank You for the Music' One of the most integral parts of Mamma Mia! is its soundtrack, encompassing more than 20 Abba songs throughout. Stuart Reid, who plays Harry Bright – another one of Sophie's fathers – says Abba's music is a cornerstone of pop culture, constantly renewing itself in different ways, creating 'universal appeal' for the show. 'We go to many countries where English isn't the mother tongue, but the show gets the same response because it's about the story and the music,' he says. By the end of the show, when the cast sing Waterloo, Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen during the encore, everybody in the audience is up on their feet and dancing, soaking in the final moments of a memorable performance, says Bob Harms, who plays Bill Austin. 'We just want people to enjoy, and I have no doubt everywhere we go, people do,' he says. So, which of the three is the father? Mamma Mia! 's flair and charm would not be nearly what it is now without the mystery of who Sophie's real father is. While fans of the show love to speculate, the answer has not been revealed – yet. However, for Kingdon, the most special scenes in the show are the intimate moments with each of her fathers. 'There are some really interesting moments where you see the shift in Sophie's story, and I think they're my favourite parts to play.' Each of the three male leads has their own take, too. 'I used to mind this when I was younger, but the whole point of the musical is that a family can be anything. In the end, it doesn't really matter because all three of them decide to share that responsibility,' says Stanning, who marries Sophie's mother, Donna, in the story. However, he adds with a mischievous gleam in his eye: 'But yes, of course, it is me.' Reid believes the show is not about who the father is, but rather about the three men who want to be in Sophie's life, each believing they are her true father. 'We're all in this journey together,' he says. Mamma Mia! movie.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store