Louvre Abu Dhabi to hold rare 'global' exhibition

Louvre Abu Dhabi is set to open its second exhibition that explores spherical representation of the world and its scientific instruments, from antiquity to the present day.

The exhibition, 'Globes: Visions of the World' curated by Bibliothèque nationale de France' (BnF) will open to public on March 23 and will run until June 2.

The exhibition will display 160 works from the collections of Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) and outstanding loaned works.

More than 40 globes and spheres, rare archaeological remains, magnificent scripts, astrolabes and splendid world maps are expected to take visitors back to 2500 years of history of the world.

Manuel Rabaté, director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: "We are living in an age of new scientific discoveries unparalleled throughout history. Man's perceptions of the world have been transformed by the creation of new technologies; which is why this exhibition is important to Louvre Abu Dhabi."

He pointed out that the unique exhibition will introduce guests to historical artefacts, including some of the oldest globes and astrolabes from the Islamic world, that have interconnected the world from ancient times to the present day.

"The collection on display echoes Louvre Abu Dhabi's ethos to narrate the story of mankind through wonderful loans from Bibliothèque nationale de France, Musée du Louvre, Musée des arts et métiers, Château de Versailles and Centre Pompidou."

The curators of the exhibition, Catherine Hofmann and François Nawrocki, said: "It is not only an exceptional opportunity to show together the most precious and rare globes and spheres of the French collections, it also tells a meaningful long-term story: about the spherical visions of the universe, at the edge of astronomical and geographical sciences, religion and philosophy."

The curators added that these theories, born in the Mesopotamian and ancient Mediterranean world, spread and enriched by the dialogue of scholars from all regions of the world, are embodied in objects, images, representations whose forms have constantly evolved.

"They unveil a complex and meaningful symbolic system that evolved over time and integrated the legacy of many myths and cultures of the world. The exhibition highlights, in particular, the fundamental contributions of the Arab science, at the confluence of civilisations."

jasmine@khaleejtimes.com