First of all, we need to take a look at what Louvre Museum does and what it’s importance for cultural area. The Louvre was began to symbolize urbanism and the authority of the king in 1190’s. Louvre is the most important place for developing and keeping the soul of the culture and art in Paris, France at the beginning. People describe Louvre as a “Soul of the Worldwide Art”. Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo Da Vinci became an icon of the Louvre Museum ever since its arrived to there. The importance of the museum provided an important place in the world. People come to see for the Museum’s architecture, to feel the soul of the France and to experience the worldwide art in one place.
Let’s take a look at Louvre in Abu Dhabi. How the Louvre Museum gave its name to a new museum located in Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island. The island is called “Island of Happiness”. Reason of that is the island includes hotels, condos, malls and other museums like Abu Dhabi Guggenheim. United Arab Emirates, internationalize the island as a “Universal Museum City”. The architecture of the Museum called Arabic-galactic designed by Jean Nouvel. Museum sight Arabic style as filigreed and Arabic figures. Even so, the design has modern touchings itself. It’s both traditional and avant garde. Saadiyat Island fabricated as a cultural distinct includes modern and traditional structures.
This universal venture of Arabic Emirates, aimed to build a cultural bridge between civilizations. With this venture, East meets West and it becomes cultural sharing within Saadiyat Island.
Doreen Carvajal describes Louvre Abu Dhabi as a “Cultural Cornerstone”. A global project emerged with the cooperation of two governments. There is a French soul in Arabic place. Also, United Arabic Emirates will open Guggenheim Museum in Saadiyat Island. Now, we see that the Louvre Museum that stated in Arabic mainland, showing the universe of culture even two opposite cultures can get along together.
According to Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, the UAE minister of state, “It means it is no longer sufficient to have military or economic power if you are not able to share your values. Exchange — this is what soft power is about.” He explaines the importance of sharing values with soft power effect. No matter what kind of architecture you use, when you share the worldwide culture each other. In Louvre Museum located in Abu Dhabi, there’s an unfinished mosque. Also there is modern galleries, contemporary architecture and traditional cafe’s in it.
Jean Nouvel, the designer of the museum says that he wanted a create neighbourhood of art, rather than a building. As he pointed out, Louvre in Abu Dhabi is not only a museum. It’s also a combination of cultures with art. The relationship between two different countries who has different cultures, combine together for to create a new global museum area.
Louvre Abu Dhabi, describes itself as a “Universal Museum in the Arab World”. They focuses on universal human values and multicultural heritage. The galleries in the museum seperated by chronological order. There’s no distinction of geography. The partnership of France and Abu Dhabi, creates of the grandest cultural power merge ever.
Louvre Abu Dhabi occures a good deal of French partners. First; Agence France-Museums (Musee Du Louvre) and; Musee d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie, Bibliotheque nationale de France, Chateau de Versailles and 13 more. The collaboration between two country, creates an idea of developing the culture in global way is not difficult. These two country gave inspires to the world. Louvre Abu Dhabi designed as a micro-city includes traditional and universal places. Buildings are modern but also shows Arabic traditions and culture as well. As we said before; East and West meets in one place. The museum expose the history, the present and the future.
In cultural policy way; the partnership of two antipodal country shows the importance of culture. United Arabic Emirates and French government get together and created universal museum. French’s known as protectionist about their culture but they gave a name of the most important Museum of their history to Arab’s. We can see that world is changing and thoughts are getting modernizing. Louvre in Abu Dhabi is not only a universal museum that other cultures converge in one place, it’s also a cultural development too. As Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh pointed, sharing values and display these different cultures together, gives a power to build up international relations. Culture is everything for every nation and when they come together and conspire, the world will become a better place to live and share values.
Müge Onan
Dec, 11, 2017
References:
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Official Website (https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/en/about-us/abu-dhabi)
- Doreen Carvajal (2017), Independent Newspaper, “Louvre Abu Dhabi, A Cultural Cornerstone Where East meets West”, (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/design/louvre-abu-dhabi-a-cultural-cornerstone-where-east-meets-west-a8052266.html)
- Oliver Wainwright (2017), The Guardian Newspaper, “Louvre Abu Dhabi: Jean Nouvel’s Spectacular Palace of Culture Shimmers in the Desert”, (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/nov/07/louvre-abu-dhabi-sheikh-chic-throws-controversial-construction-in-relief)
- Paris City Vision Website, “The Mona Lisa: Painting of Da Vinci Located at the Louvre”, (https://www.pariscityvision.com/en/paris/museums/louvre-museum/the-mona-lisa-history-and-mystery)
- Louvre Official Website, (http://www.louvre.fr/en/histoirelouvres/history-louvre#tabs)
