Latest news with #Mamluks:LegacyofanEmpire
Time Out Abu Dhabi
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi's exhibitions for the next year have been revealed
The new cultural season is here and Louvre Abu Dhabi isn't pulling any punches. The museum has just revealed its full 2025–2026 programme – and it's a knockout. We're talking dynasties, darkness, dancing light and a certain Spanish artist who needs no introduction. Louvre Abu Dhabi is diving headfirst into global history and contemporary creativity, showcasing everything from medieval powerhouses to modern masters. With heavyweight partnerships including Musée du Louvre, Musée national Picasso-Paris and Richard Mille, this next chapter promises art, innovation and dazzling cross-cultural storytelling. Here's your exclusive sneak peek into the season: Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire Sept 17, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026 The season kicks off in glorious style with a deep dive into the mighty Mamluk Sultanate – a dynasty that ruled swathes of the Islamic world for over 250 years. Think Egypt, the Levant, parts of Turkey and Saudi Arabia's holy sites – all under one powerful banner. Expect intricate craftsmanship, epic diplomacy and a visual journey through a golden age of Islamic art. Centrepieces include Reception of a Venetian Delegation by the Mamluk Governor of Damascus and the jaw-dropping Baptistery of Saint Louis. This exhibition brings together masterpieces from Musée du Louvre and Louvre Abu Dhabi's own collection. Art Here 2025 and Richard Mille Art Prize Oct 8 – Dec 28, 2025 Back for its fifth edition, Art Here is getting even bolder. Curated by Swiss-Japanese powerhouse Sophie Mayuko Arni, this year's theme is Shadows, drawing on the interplay between light and darkness – with nods to both Japanese and Arabian Gulf traditions. Expect massive, immersive works from artists based in the GCC, MENA and Japan, with one lucky creative scooping the coveted Richard Mille Art Prize. It's big. It's bright. And it's brimming with meaning. Picasso, the Figure Jan 19 – May 31, 2026 Yes, that Picasso. This huge exhibition zooms in on the Spanish icon's lifelong obsession with the human figure – from mythological musings to surrealist contortions. Featuring more than just canvases, the show will include sculpture, drawings and rarely seen masterpieces. Standouts include Woman with a Mandolin (1911), Portrait of a Seated Woman (Olga) (1923) and Woman Sitting in Front of the Window (1937), all exploring how Picasso warped, twisted and reinvented the human form. But that's not all. The museum is set to host a range of cultural and educational events alongside the headline exhibitions, plus a new immersive experience that hasn't yet been revealed (but our curiosity is thoroughly piqued). From centuries-old empires to avant-garde experiments, Louvre Abu Dhabi's 2025–2026 season is shaping up to be its most ambitious yet. Whether you're into ancient artefacts or modern masterpieces, there's something here that'll absolutely blow your artistic mind. From Dhs65. Open Tues-Thu, 10am-6:30pm (exhibition), Fri-Sun, 10am-8:30pm. Closed on Mon. Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island, . You might also like… Abu Dhabi's best restaurants: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted 12 fantastic road trips across the GCC Fill up the tank and go Abu Dhabi to Dubai by bus: How to travel between the two cities Everything you need to know, from getting a Nol card to bus timetables Old Abu Dhabi: 15 best spots to uncover the history of the capital Peel back the layers of time
Al Etihad
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Louvre Abu Dhabi announces calendar of exhibitions for 2025-2026 season
16 May 2025 16:52 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Louvre Abu Dhabi's 2025-2026 season will showcase an ambitious lineup of exhibitions that span centuries and continents, bringing together diverse artistic traditions and perspectives. Focusing on historical legacies, contemporary expressions, and groundbreaking collaborations, the upcoming season reinforces the museum's role as a hub for cultural dialogue and artistic season will open with Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire, organised in partnership with the Musée du Louvre and the French Muséums. It offers a deep dive into the powerful Mamluk dynasty and its cultural influence across vast this, Art Here 2025 and the Richard Mille Art Prize, in partnership with Richard Mille, will highlight the works of contemporary artists based in the GCC and Japan, as well as artists based in the MENA region and connected to the GCC. A major highlight of the season, Picasso, the Figure, organised in partnership with Musée national Picasso-Paris and France Muséums, will explore Picasso's revolutionary approach to the human form, tracing his engagement with mythological, surrealist, and classical themes throughout his Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: "Louvre Abu Dhabi's exhibitions embody our commitment to offering visitors enriching and inspiring experiences." He added, "This season, we are proud to present a compelling dialogue between Eastern and Western artistic traditions, showcasing masterpieces that celebrate cultural heritage and innovation. Through these exhibitions, we reaffirm the museum's role as a space for meaningful exchange, fostering a deeper appreciation of artistic expression across different cultures and time periods."Dr. Guilhem André, Director of Scientific, Curatorial, and Collections Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: "We aim to offer a space where art serves as a bridge between cultures, inviting visitors to engage with diverse artistic traditions and perspectives from ancient worlds to contemporary periods. These exhibitions will provide a unique opportunity to explore the connections between different movements and histories, deepening our collective appreciation of creativity and shared human stories." Mamluk Sultanate Heritage Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire (September 17, 2025 to January 25, 2026) explores the rich heritage of the Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517), a powerful dynasty that ruled for over two and a half centuries. The sultanate controlled a vast expanse of territory, including Egypt, Bilad al-Sham (modern-day Levant), a small part of Eastern Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), and the Hejaz (modern-day Saudi Arabia), which encompassed the most significant Islamic holy curated by Dr Souraya Noujaim, Director of the Department of Islamic Arts at Musée du Louvre, and Dr. Carine Juvin, Curator, Medieval Near and Middle East, Department of Islamic Arts at Musée du Louvre, with the support of Fakhera Alkindi, Senior Curatorial Assistant at Louvre Abu Dhabi, the exhibition offers a comprehensive exploration of the diverse Mamluk society through a remarkable selection of objects. The exhibition also highlights the Mamluks' role as active participants in a vast network of international exchanges linking Europe, Africa, and highlights on loan from Musée du Louvre include Reception of a Venetian Delegation by the Mamluk Governor of Damascus, 1500-1540 and Baptistery of Saint Louis (Syria or Egypt, c. 1330–1340), an exceptional masterpiece that epitomises the height of Mamluk artistry and continues to be a symbol of cultural exchange and artistic achievement, reflecting the enduring legacy of the Mamluk dynasty. Also featured is a notable piece from Louvre Abu Dhabi's collection: Carpet Decorated with Three Medallions, produced in Egypt in the second half of the 15th century. Art Prize Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2025 and the Richard Mille Art Prize (October 8, 2025 to December 28, 2025), will see the fifth edition of Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here, in partnership with Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille, is currently accepting proposals from contemporary artists based in the GCC and Japan, as well as artists based in MENA and connected to the GCC. Curated by Swiss Japanese curator Sophie Mayuko Arni, this year's theme, Shadows, explores the interplay of light and darkness, drawing inspiration from Japanese and Arabian Gulf artistic traditions. The exhibition invites contemporary artists to reimagine these influences through site-specific monumental works, reflecting on how shadow and light shape architectural and cultural narratives. Works by the shortlisted artists will be displayed in the Art Here 2025 exhibition starting in October, and of these, one outstanding artist will be awarded the prestigious Richard Mille Art Prize in December 2025. Exploring Picasso's Works Picasso, the Figure (January19 to May 31, 2026) in partnership with the Musée national Picasso-Paris and France Muséums, Picasso, the Figure explores Pablo Picasso's evolving depiction of the figure and encompasses various techniques such as painting, sculpture, and drawing. Featuring key works from the early 1900s to his later years, the exhibition highlights how Picasso redefined shape, expression, and meaning, revolutionising modern art. Jointly curated by Cécile Debray, President of Musée national Picasso-Paris, Virginie Perdrisot, Chief Curator and Head of Sculpture, Ceramics and Giacometti Furniture at Musée national Picasso-Paris, and Aisha AlAhmadi, Curatorial Assistant at Louvre Abu Dhabi, the show offers a rare insight into the artist's continuous experimentation with the human form across different periods of his highlights include paintings by Picasso from Louvre Abu Dhabi's collection, such as Woman with a Mandolin (Miss Léonie seated), dating to 1911, and Portrait of a Seated Woman (Olga), dating to 1923, in addition to loans from Musée national Picasso-Paris such as Woman Sitting in Front of the Window, dating to 1937. In addition to these major exhibitions, Louvre Abu Dhabi will host a dynamic range of cultural and educational programmes, a new immersive experience, and events designed to foster curiosity, engagement and dialogue. The 2025 – 2026 season at Louvre Abu Dhabi is set to be a celebration of creativity, cultural exchange, and artistic exploration. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
