The beauty and bravery of the Louvre Abu Dhabi

Last week, Jack Lang, the former French culture minister, spoke about bravery, which has nothing to do with Armistice Day honoring the victims of both world wars.Instead, he focused on our discussion Five Years At the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, he enthusiastically supported the idea from the moment he came up with it.

According to Mr. Lang, Courage is involved in the UAE museum project in a number of ways. The bold proposal by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, is groundbreaking.

Mr Lang recalled that French officials, led by former president Jacques Chirac, had never heard of it before and had not given it any consideration. So be bold from the start. “Sheikh Zayed proposed such a project to the French, and it was clear that the important role of culture in connecting people and building bridges could be realized,” Mr Lang recalled in Paris. “It’s a really brilliant idea.”

To his surprise, not everyone thought so from the start.

The Louvre Museum in the heart of Paris has a special place in the French imagination. An old guard who is very possessive about national treasures. So for Mr Lang, the real battle is trying to convince skeptics that the opening will be for the glory of France and the good of the tradition that surrounds the chief dame of French museums. “They thought it would be a dilution of the soul for the Louvre in Paris, and the Louvre would somehow disappear,” he said.

In response to those concerns, Mr Long tried to shift his focus to what was available. “I think going out into the world is a great opportunity for our culture and the connection between French people. It took some time, but in the end the project was adopted and the project was carried out with great courage. This It was a risk we took, and now we can see its success as the best answer.”

He noted that Louvre Abu Dhabi is now unrivaled in the scale of transfers and type of exhibits in the Arabian Gulf region. “The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a unique project, an original project open to all in the region,” he reflects.

For Mr Lang, he was instrumental in building an institution he calls “the world’s reference museum” that has drawn so many people to the UAE. “It was remarkable that it hosted 3 million people from all over the world in such a short period of time,” he recalls.

The importance of this is felt throughout the culturally appreciative world. Mr Long was impressed by the curatorial team, who decided their own policies, seeking to go their own way to maintain the unique Louvre Abu Dhabi identity. “It is important to note that museum directors are free to organize exhibits as they see fit, and both France and the UAE respect this process,” he said.

The ex-politician speaks from an intellectual perspective while running the highly regarded French institution Arab World Institute, in Paris.the institute Promote cross-cultural engagement between the Arabs and the French-speaking world.

For Lang, the element of progress is a two-way street. “As we have seen in Western countries, this institution is at the forefront of the culture and is at the forefront of the culture in the UAE and the region.”

According to Mr Long, an example set in one part of the world resonates elsewhere, and he has been an enthusiastic visitor to Abu Dhabi Masterpieces since its launch. “It’s important to have a strong image for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, where it’s located, and for the people of the West,” he said. “The Gulf countries have a bright pearl to love.”

Standing on the colonnade of the Louvre Museum in Paris, one can see the unique architectural landscape on earth – through the glass and steel triangular structure designed by American architect I.M. Pei, extending from the courtyard to the sky.As it turns out, Louvre Abu Dhabi is on par with its parent company, especially in design Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, in particular the smooth dome of the steel roof. From a distance, it has a floating serene silhouette – at least in the mind – as easily clinging as a pyramid on a Parisian property.

In addition, the first cosmopolitan museum in the Arab world takes turns hosting Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpieces, each time strengthening the partnership between the two institutions. Special days are a routine for Abu Dhabi institutions.

During his long career, Mr Lang emerged from the ordinary strife of French politics.In pushing the Louvre Abu Dhabi to take root, he proved himself a A visionary future.

Published: November 14, 2022 4:00 AM