This is just such a genius idea!
Commuting between Dubai and Abu Dhabi? If you recently drove down the E/11 Sheikh Zayed road from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and spotted the 10 huge billboards on the right of the highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi – showcasing artworks exhibited at the Louvre. Read on.
The secret was unveiled to the media on Thursday 15th of February for the official launch of Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Highway Gallery, under the attendance of Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi; His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi; Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development and Chair of Abu Dhabi Media; His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi Unveils Radio-Guided Highway Art Gallery
To mark UAE Innovation Month, Louvre Abu Dhabi has unveiled its radio-guided Highway Gallery, which showcases 10 magnificent artworks and artefacts from the museum’s collection on 8×6 meter billboards alongside E11.
In partnership with Abu Dhabi Media Company, Radio 1 FM (100.5 FM), Classic FM (91.6 FM) and Emarat FM (95.8 FM) will automatically play a 30-second story about each piece as travelers approach the display – the world’s first audio-visual experience of this kind.
The Highway Gallery launched today and will be on show for a month, spanning 100 kilometers of road between Seih Shuaib to Rahba City.
So next time you drive down this highway, tune into one of these three radio stations and don’t panic if the song or program stops and an unexpected voice takes control of the radio. It is just this inventive!
Closer look at the 10 masterpieces displayed on billboards along the Dubai to Abu Dhabi drive
Ancient masterpieces showcased in the Highway Gallery include the Mari-Cha lion, an important Islamic work from the Mediterranean region; the exceptional Egyptian Sarcophagus of Princess Henuttawy; a coin inspired by Alexander the Great and discovered in the UAE, on loan from Al Ain Museum; and an 8,000-year-old two-headed statue one of the oldest monumental statues in the history of humanity, on loan from the Department of Antiquities of Jordan.
Van Gogh’s Self Portrait
Paintings spanning from the Renaissance to modernity will also be on display. These include Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait of a woman, La Belle Ferronnière, a loan from Musée du Louvre; Van Gogh’s 1887 Self Portrait, on loan from Musée d’Orsay; and Édouard Manet’s The Fife Player, on loan from Musée d’Orsay. Other Paintings from the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Collection include Young Emir Studying by Osman Hamdi Bey; Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of George Washington; and Piet Mondrian’s iconic Composition with Blue, Red, Yellow, and Black.
Young Emir Studying by Osman Hamdi Bey
What is happening next at Louvre Abu Dhabi?
In addition to the launch of the Highway Gallery, Louvre Abu Dhabi has announced an extensive public programme, offering residents and visitors diverse cultural experiences in dialogue with the museum’s collection, narrative and architecture.
Upcoming events include:
– a Korean puppet show aimed at children and families which will run from the 15th to the 17th of March,
– Bach solo by cellist Sonia Wider-Atherton and dancer Shantala Shivalingappa on the 30th and 31st of March,
– followed by a recital of Swayambhu and South African dances by Via Sophiatown on the 5th and 6th of April,
– and a concert of Love and Revenge on the 2nd and 3rd of May.
The first universal museum in the Arab world, Louvre Abu Dhabi opened on 11 November. It offers a new perspective on the history of art in a globalized world. Alongside its collection of artworks and artefacts in its galleries spanning from pre-historic times to the present day, the museum will present four special exhibitions a year organised by the French museum partners and Agence France-Muséums as per the intergovernmental agreement for 15 years between the Government of Abu Dhabi and France.
More information on Louvre Abu Dhabi’s website: https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/en/highway-gallery
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