A ten year wait, double the expected time, for an artwork designed by Jean Nouvel. Located in the cultural district on the Saadiyat island, on a 97.000 sq.mt surface, finally the Louvre of Abu Dhabi has opened to the public in an astonishing architecture surely destined to become a global icon. It is a sort of “sky metaphor” the large eight-layered “bee nest” dome, that proposes again geometrical forms in Arabic style. A net of corridors and canals built on water creates a sort of labyrinth, whereas beams of light filter from the roof and draw mysterious shades on the white walls’ surfaces. 

“The Louvre Abu Dhabi literally embodies an extraordinary project..."

A ten year wait, double the expected time, for an artwork designed by Jean Nouvel. Located in the cultural district on the Saadiyat island, on a 97.000 sq.mt surface, finally the Louvre of Abu Dhabi has opened to the public in an astonishing architecture surely destined to become a global icon. It is a sort of “sky metaphor” the large eight-layered “bee nest” dome, that proposes again geometrical forms in Arabic style. A net of corridors and canals built on water creates a sort of labyrinth, whereas beams of light filter from the roof and draw mysterious shades on the white walls’ surfaces. “The Louvre Abu Dhabi literally embodies an extraordinary project. Its vocation is to express what is universal for every age. Its architecture makes it a place of convergence and correlation among the immense sky, the marine horizon and the territory of the desert. Its dome imprints the space with an awareness of the time now through a light that evoke its own spirituality.” explains Jean Nouvel. Inside the exhibition presents, within the wide galleries a chronological path from the prehistory up until now, that includes twelve chapters among which the creation of the first villages, universal religions, cosmography, the magnificent royal court and the modern world. A fascinating exhibition based on harmonies and parallelisms between cultures, religions, all present - including the Judaism. A tribute to dialogue, a jubilant appearance of holy icons, from Egyptian pharaohs to the gods of ancient Greece, from Madonnas to Buddhas… The impression gained is a global history of humanity, made of equality and tolerance. The modern masterpieces are hosted, intended to attract great queues in search of a photo: Manet, Mondrian, Van Gogh, Picasso, Magritte. Superstudio was present at the opening. 

www.louvreabudhabi.ae