Designed by Pritzker-winning French architect Jean Nouvel, Louvre Abu Dhabi is a dome-shaped museum seemingly floating on the sea.
The dome’s weaving web pattern filters the sun allowing a visual effect of a ‘rain of light’. The shading effect makes it a tranquil place to sit to relax away from the hot Abu Dhabi sun.
The museum tells the story of humanity in distinct chapters. The first hall is very spacious, displaying similarities between various cultures.
An example of this is the ancient practice of covering the dead in gold funerary masks. It has captivated us for centuries. Could it be that its incorruptible nature offers a glimpse of eternal life? Or is it the glimmer of its luster that helps to ward off the darkness of death, symbolically preserving the light of life? Whatever the answer, it's clear this age-old tradition has left us with plenty to ponder.
The next hall showcases “The First Villages” of humanity with jars, clay pots, and weapons.
The hall of ‘The First Great Powers” displays objects from a time when the world was becoming more grand and sophisticated.
The hall of 'Universal Religions' covers the spread of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.
Breaching the gap between Eastern and Western art, Louvre Abu Dhabi explores the shared ideas that have defined our common humanity since prehistory.