BEST ON SHOW AT LOUVRE ABU DHABI

▶ On the museum’s third anniversary, Alexandra Chaves chooses five exceptional pieces from its permanent collection

Louvre Abu Dhabi opened its doors to the public three years ago today. Since then, it has welcomed millions of visitors from around the world. From the start, the museum’s approach has been cross-cultural, in an endeavour to encompass everyone within its home of Abu Dhabi.

In the past three years, it has presented significant artefacts and works of art from around the world and across the region, including Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker sculpture and the world’s oldest natural pearl at about 8,000 years old, which was found in the capital last year.

Much like other museums globally, Louvre Abu Dhabi had to close its doors from March to June because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it kept up its activities online, from the release of the cinematic podcast We Are Not Alone, featuring the voice of famed architect Jean Nouvel, the man behind the museum’s dome, to the launch of its digital archive, which will house its permanent collection in the coming months. Its latest commission, a short film titled The Pulse of Time, will be released today. Louvre Abu Dhabi, along with NYU Abu Dhabi, will also host an online symposium on the future of museums from next Monday until Wednesday, tackling issues such as the pandemic and representation within arts and cultural institutions.

Here, we take a look at some key pieces from the museum’s collection.