Louvre Abu Dhabi director Manuel Rabaté said that the museum brings together the riches of all the French museums.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he stated that the Paris Louvre spirit in its vastness and international inclusiveness is very well represented at the Abu Dhabi edition.
Paris’ Louvre is organized by departments, disciplines and culture.
But when Louvre Abu Dhabi was in the making, it was designed to resonate with the modern 21st century.
Rabaté explained that the new architectural design and exhibitions layout have not only successfully contained international culture, but also managed to span all eras.
"From the idea of containing the world, we have kept the story of the world and history, but had it extend to contain all civilizations in all times,” he said.
In France, after visiting the Louvre your quest for art will need you to make a few more stops. For more modern works, you will go to the Musée d'Orsay. To check out contemporary works, you will go to The Centre Pompidou. For books, maps and documents, you should visit the National Library of France.
All the richness that French museums have to offer has been made available at one location, the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Its uniqueness is based on an overarching vision of artistic creation. Museums traditionally organize their collections by school, technique and materials, and while this approach does highlight the unique characteristics of a series, it does nothing to show the influences, exchanges and circulation of ideas and know-how.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi’s unique exhibition design explores the connections between civilizations and cultures that may, at first, appear to be far separated by time and geography.
Visitors will be guided through a chronological and theme-based display, traversing different periods and civilizations. The display picks out universal themes and common influences to illustrate the similarities that grow out of a shared human experience, beyond any geographical, historical or cultural boundaries. The result is a truly universal museum.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is the result of an unprecedented initiative that laid the groundwork for a new type of cultural collaboration of unparalleled scope between two countries, centered on the creation of a national institution.
Born out of an intergovernmental agreement signed on March 6, 2007, between the United Arab Emirates and France, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is the first universal museum in the Arab world. It brings the Louvre name to Abu Dhabi and presents both ancient and contemporary works of historic, cultural and sociological interest from around the world.
The agreement involves twelve French public cultural establishments.
Commenting on architect Jean Nouvel's remarkable creation, Rabaté said that there is a philosophical aspect to the building.
The dome welcomes the visitor and extends a worldwide invitation, he added.
