Latest news with #KingsandQueensofAfrica
Al Etihad
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi for free this Sunday
14 May 2025 00:13 SAMIHAH ZAMAN (ABU DHABI)UAE residents can gain free access to the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum this weekend, as the museum joins the art world in celebrating International Museum to its social media platforms, the Louvre Abu Dhabi announced free entry for all UAE residents on Sunday, May 18, can book their visits online, and present a valid UAE resident ID to enter. Timings On Sundays, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, located on Saadiyat Island, is open from 10am to midnight, with its galleries and exhibitions open until 8:30pm. The dome area is open until midnight, with last entry at 11pm. The museum also offers free entry throughout the year to certain groups of people — including children below the age of 18 years, senior residents above the age of 60 years, museum members with one guest, ICOM/ICOMOS card holders, journalists, and people of determination and a single companion — but even UAE residents who do not meet these criteria get to go free on Sunday, May 18. Eminent Art Collection Established under a UAE-France partnership, the museum first opened its doors in November 2017. Seventeen of Frances' renowned cultural institutions – including The Louvre Museum in Paris — coordinate the loan of artworks to Louvre Abu Dhabi, which also owns a sizeable collection of pieces. In addition to its regular galleries, which focus on cross-cultural interactions through the ages, the museum is currently hosting a temporary exhibition to highlight African rulers, titled 'Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power'. Its well-loved Children's Museum also features an interstellar journey into space for young visitors, titled 'Picturing the Cosmos'.
Arab News
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Art Dubai's 18th edition marks UAE's rise as key market for contemporary art
DUBAI: The Madinat Jumeirah is alive once again with the invigorating buzz of collectors, artists, gallerists and art lovers all gathered for the 18th edition of Art Dubai, which runs until April 20. There is the familiar sound of a multitude of languages and accents, reflecting Dubai's ever-growing international population as gallerists from around the world, including North America, China, South and Central Asia, Africa and from across the Middle East, showcase works that reflect the artistic breadth and culture of their respective countries. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Of note are the 30 new exhibitors at Art Dubai, hailing from around the world, forming part of the 120 galleries taking part this year. The quality of works on display, underlined artistic director Pablo del Val, are particularly noteworthy this year and, he says, evoke a sense of escapism and surrealism as if to provide refuge from the uncertainty of today's times. The quality of works and international range of galleries also reflect the changing nature of Dubai. Rather than take up residence in Dubai for a short-term period of a few years, new residents are coming to the city with plans, it seems, to stay for longer. At the same time, there has been notable investment in cultural infrastructure within the UAE that is now paying off, resulting in a plethora of new museums, galleries, institutions and initiatives offering visitors to Art Dubai a wealth of cultural activities outside the fair. 'Today there is a change in the architecture (of Dubai), with residents desiring more state-of-the-art homes with more space,' del Val told Arab News. 'When these people move to Dubai they are doing so with a long-term version. This gives a sense of stability to the city and necessitates a different kind of art collecting.' Among the newcomers to the fair was Richard Saltoun Gallery, which has branches in Rome, London and New York. 'This will be our first participation at Art Dubai and we are thrilled to be participating. Dubai, and the UAE in general, is one of the most interesting and growing markets that we work with,' Niamh Coglan, sales director at Richard Saltoun Gallery, told Arab News. 'The institutional collections, foundations and private collections are curious, active and engaging to work with. Having worked with several major museums and foundations over the past few years in the region, we knew we had to take a more active role and be more present.' Among the artists the gallery will show at the fair is Mozambican modernist Bertina Lopes, whose work is on display in the exhibition Kings and Queens of Africa at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Among the notable works at the fair was a large 196 x 363 cm painting by the late Iranian artist Bahman Mohassess and New York-based Leila Heller Gallery's booth portraying two abstract figures locked in a passionate embrace, one colored red and the other off-white next to a group of stones and an abstract black bird flying overhead. The work, which has garnered great interest among collectors, is being sold for $2,650,000. In the Bawwaba section of specially commissioned works for the fair, Saudi artist Abdullah Al-Othman is showcasing a solo project in the form of a large installation work of signs, symbols and photography from around Riyadh as part of his series Manifesto: the Language & the City (2011). The work is being displayed through Iris Art Projects, the only GCC gallery exhibiting in the section. Showcasing works from the African continent and diaspora is Efie Gallery, a Dubai-based gallery that recently moved to Alserkal Avenue. The gallery's booth presented a mixed media presentation that is thoughtfully and serenely curated featuring works by Abdoulaye Konate, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Hugh Findletar and J.K. Bruce Vanderpuije. 'We love being in the Middle East and Dubai because it has offered us a clean slate as opposed to the West, where we need to deconstruct narratives,' said co-founder of the gallery Kwame Mintah. 'Here we are offered the space to construct the narratives.'
Arab News
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Louvre Abu Dhabi invites visitors to embrace spirit of Ramadan with its month-long program
ABU DHABI: Louvre Abu Dhabi is inviting visitors to experience the warmth and spirituality of Ramadan through a special program during the holy month that includes extended opening hours, immersive cultural talks and a diverse selection of pop-up dining options. While the permanent galleries will continue to close at the usual time (8:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday), the 'Kings and Queens of Africa,' a temporary exhibition running until May 25, will remain open until 1 a.m. throughout the month. This gives visitors an additional opportunity to view the works in an exhibition the museum says reflects its commitment to the celebration of African artistic heritage, including 'Projection of Harmony' by renowned South African artist Esther Mahlangu. The museum, in collaboration with the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute, will also host a series of talks on the subject of Islamic philosophy. Scholars Taneli Kukkonen and Nader Bizri will delve into significant works of Islamic thought, drawing parallels between them and contemporary culture. The discussions will be accompanied by readings in the Hakawati style, an Arabic word that means 'storyteller,' led by Lamya Tawfiq. The first session, 'Hayy Ibn Yaqzan and his Castaway Companions,' is on March 8. It will explore author Ibn Tufayl's 12th-century masterpiece, which laid the foundations for the castaway genre and influenced classics such as Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel 'Robinson Crusoe,' and the 2000 Tom Hanks film 'Cast Away.' The second talk, 'The Brethren of Purity and the Enduring Legacy of Animal Fables' on March 15, will examine the influence of Islamic fables on animal-related storytelling traditions worldwide, from the ancient Greek 'Aesop's Fables' to 20th century works such as 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' and 'The Hundred and One Dalmatians.' Visitors will also be able to sample offerings from a number of Ramadan-inspired food pop-ups provided by establishments such as Ethr Cafe, Sky Garden by Ethr Cafe, Aptitude, Fouquet's, Art Lounge, and Toby's Estate. Families visiting the museum during Ramadan and Eid can also participate in interactive workshops, including a 'Create Your Own Headdress' event on March 29 and 30. Meanwhile, Louvre Abu Dhabi has launched season three of its podcast series, 'Adventures at the Museum,' which is billed as taking listeners on a journey through art history, storytelling and adventure. New episodes are released every Thursday.
