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UAE Culture Ministry Organizes ‘As the Sun Appears from Beyond’ Exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi

The exhibition takes its visitors on a tour through more than 60 unique works of art in various artistic fields. WAM
The exhibition takes its visitors on a tour through more than 60 unique works of art in various artistic fields. WAM
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UAE Culture Ministry Organizes ‘As the Sun Appears from Beyond’ Exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi

The exhibition takes its visitors on a tour through more than 60 unique works of art in various artistic fields. WAM
The exhibition takes its visitors on a tour through more than 60 unique works of art in various artistic fields. WAM

Under the patronage of UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and as part of the activities accompanying the ceremony for honoring the winners of the 18th edition of Al Burda Award 2024, the Ministry of Culture organized an art exhibition titled “As the Sun Appears from Beyond" at the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

This exhibition, running until January 19, showcases Islamic art's evolution over two decades. It features award-winning pieces from the Ministry of Culture's collection and highlights the UAE's leadership in fostering artistic innovation, WAM said.

The exhibition focuses on the concept of “light,” which explains the title of the exhibition and links to the core theme of this year’s Al Burda Award. The theme draws inspiration from Surat Al-Ma’idah, verse 15: “There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.”

The exhibition takes its visitors on a tour through more than 60 unique works of art in various artistic fields, including Arabic calligraphy, ornamentation, and poetry.

It offers Islamic art enthusiasts an immersive interactive experience that brings to life the ability of Islamic art to blend classical methods of expression with the spirit of modern creativity, creating a unique harmony, WAM said.

The exhibition is the result of the first edition of Al Burda Grant program and the "Capacity Building Program," and the collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two parties. It showcases works that illustrate the evolution of Islamic arts across time and space, ranging from traditional pieces to contemporary interpretations.

Minister of Culture Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi said: “The exhibition ‘As the Sun Appears from Beyond’ is an exceptional opportunity to celebrate Islamic art and its development throughout the ages, and an affirmation of the UAE’s commitment and belief that art is a vital tool for promoting cultural dialogue between peoples, which is reflected in this exhibition.

“We are proud to be part of this distinguished artistic journey provided by this exhibition, which exemplifies how art influences the strengthening of communication between civilizations and constitutes an opportunity to contemplate the light that Islamic art reflects across various generations. Art is not just an expression of beauty; it is also a means of transmitting spiritual and faith values that lead humanity towards unity and brotherhood,” he added.

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Culture

Rare 19th-Century Octagonal Quran Goes on Display at Makkah’s Holy Quran Museum

The manuscript, featuring a unique octagonal design and compact size, was written in India during the 19th century. (SPA)
The manuscript, featuring a unique octagonal design and compact size, was written in India during the 19th century. (SPA)
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Rare 19th-Century Octagonal Quran Goes on Display at Makkah’s Holy Quran Museum

The manuscript, featuring a unique octagonal design and compact size, was written in India during the 19th century. (SPA)
The manuscript, featuring a unique octagonal design and compact size, was written in India during the 19th century. (SPA)

The Holy Quran Museum in Makkah is showcasing a rare and unique historical Quran written in India during the 19th century, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

The manuscript features a unique octagonal design and compact size, offering easy portability while reflecting a blend of practicality, artistic precision, and innovation in Quranic production.

The exhibit supports the museum’s mission to educate visitors about the history and evolution of Quranic calligraphy, while contributing to the growing cultural and tourism landscape of the Hira Cultural District and reinforcing Makkah’s global cultural significance.

Culture

How France Fell for Re-imagined 19th-Century Workers’ Canteens

A general view shows the diner room of French brasserie Bouillon Chartier, on July 24, 2013, in Paris. (AFP)
A general view shows the diner room of French brasserie Bouillon Chartier, on July 24, 2013, in Paris. (AFP)
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How France Fell for Re-imagined 19th-Century Workers’ Canteens

A general view shows the diner room of French brasserie Bouillon Chartier, on July 24, 2013, in Paris. (AFP)
A general view shows the diner room of French brasserie Bouillon Chartier, on July 24, 2013, in Paris. (AFP)

So-called bouillon restaurants are mushrooming all over France, reviving a traditional low-cost Gallic meal concept that can compete with fast-food on prices and easily beat it on quality.

"It's exploding! 253 bouillon restaurants have opened in France in four years," Bernard Boutboul, a restaurant consultant, told AFP.

"It's an ultra-intensive expansion, driven by a trend of returning to traditions, with the reappearance of iconic French dishes at very low prices."

Created in the 1850s by the butcher Adolphe-Baptiste Duval to fill workers' stomachs with hearty meals, Duval's ran 250 restaurants in the capital by the turn of the 20th century.

That made them France's first mass chain of restaurants, serving traditional recipes at low prices in high-volume and bustling restaurants.

But as eating habits changed, with higher quality and more expensive brasseries dominating the French food market, and international and fast-food trends appearing, the bouillon concept fell out of favor.

Its revival began in 2005 with the resurrection of the Bouillon Chartier, an ornate Parisian landmark that had been slowly fading.

"A bouillon is the gateway to French gastronomy," explained Christophe Joulie, part of the gastronomic family who took over the Chartier.

He modernized the kitchens and put beef bourguignon with macaroni back on the menu.

"For me, you have to be able to have a starter, main course and dessert for under 20 euros," he said.

With its leek vinaigrette for one euro and bills scribbled on paper tablecloths by apron-clad waiters, the restaurant hums with activity as locals and tourists alike pack out its tables, which crucially cannot be reserved.

"In a world where fast food is taking up more space, it's French-style fast food, because we serve a full dish for less than a sandwich at McDonald's," said Joulie.

- 'Dust off' -

Even multi-Michelin-starred French chef Thierry Marx has got in on the act, attracted by the idea of providing quality food at affordable prices.

He has opened a bouillon in a northern Paris suburb.

"In the 1960s, it took the equivalent of an hour of the minimum wage to eat at a bistro," he told AFP. "Today, with an hour of minimum wage, you only get fast food, something from the bakery -- or a bouillon dish."

Other restaurateurs with a keen eye for the market have sensed an opportunity.

"We looked at needs and changing habits and realized there was demand for intergenerational social spaces with no price-based exclusion," Enguerran Lavaud, director of Groupe Bouillon Restaurants, told AFP.

"I wanted to dust off the bouillon -- its mass-market French dishes available from noon to midnight."

Boosted by its Instagram presence, his Bouillon Pigalle now serves 2,300 customers a day, often with long queues along the pavement.

Since 2017, the concept has spread, attracting more and more restaurateurs across France from Angers to Nancy and Toulouse.

Some are adapting the concept.

In the Romainville suburb northeast of Paris, a family of Mauritian origin took over a large brasserie in 2026 to turn it into a "Mauritian-style bouillon".

There is an Italian bouillon in Paris too.

Industry insiders say they do not fear competition around what has become a "bouillon culture".

"But there are bouillons and bouillons: those that can't sustain the low prices over time, and whose menus change all the time, won't make it to 2027 or 2028 because you have to protect the quality of the experience to protect volume - and therefore prices," warned Lavaud.

According to consultant Bernard Boutboul, you specifically need "at least 300 seats and not exceed an average bill of 18 euros".

Culture

AlUla Marks World Heritage Day, Showcases Millennia of Human Civilization

AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA
AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA
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AlUla Marks World Heritage Day, Showcases Millennia of Human Civilization

AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA
AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects - SPA

AlUla Governorate is celebrating World Heritage Day, observed annually on April 18, by showcasing a historical legacy spanning thousands of years as a crossroads of ancient civilizations and a living testament to cultural continuity and architectural development, reinforcing its status as a premier global cultural center, SPA reported.

The governorate is home to landmarks of universal value, most notably Hegra, the first Saudi site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Other significant sites include AlUla Old Town, featuring over 900 traditional mud-brick houses that reflect the region's historical social fabric and unique architectural heritage.

AlUla remains committed to the preservation of its archaeological sites and inscriptions through specialized restoration and rehabilitation projects.

These efforts ensure the sustainability of its heritage for future generations, aligning with international standards for protecting human history and promoting global cultural awareness.