BACTRIAN “PRINCESS” CENTRAL ASIA, END OF 3RD BEGINNING OF 2ND MILLENNIUM BCE CHLORITE (BODY AND HEADDRESS), CALCITE (FACE) 25.3X11.5X9.5CM LOUVRE ABU DHABI, ABU DHABI, LAD 2011.024 © LOUVRE ABU DHABI/THIERRY OLLIVIER. EDOUARD MANET PARIS, 1832–PARIS, 1883 THE GYPSY PARIS, FRANCE, 1862–1867 OIL ON CANVAS 116.7X81.5X11.5CM, 90.5X55.5X2.5CM (WITHOUT FRAME) LOUVRE ABU DHABI, ABU DHABI, LAD 2009.018.001 © LOUVRE ABU DHABI / THIERRY OLLIVIER
PHOTOGRAPHS: LOUVRE ABU DHABI EXTERIOR WITH ABU DHABI SKYLINE (NIGHT) © LOUVRE ABU DHABI, PHOTOGRAPHY: MOHAMED SOMJI. BACTRIAN PRINCESS © LOUVRE ABU DHABI/THIERRY OLLIVIER. EDOUARD MANET, THE GYPSY, 1862–1867 © LOUVRE ABU DHABI/THIERRY OLLIVIER
Star attraction
IT’S BEEN A DECADE IN THE PIPELINE, but the Louvre Abu Dhabi finally opens its doors to the public this month. Designed as the centrepiece of a new cultural district in the city, the gallery appears as an island city floating in the waters of the Arabian gulf. The 55 exhibition spaces sit under a gigantic domed roof made up of thousands of interlocking stars, which throw patterns onto the floors and tidal pools below. The effect, according to its architect, is of a ‘parasol creating a shower of lights’. Of course, this is a Louvre, so there are plenty of star-gazing opportunities inside, too. The gallery’s collection stretches from prehistorical objects – such as the Bactrian Princess created in Central Asia nearly 5,000 years ago (right) – to commissioned pieces by contemporary artists like Jenny Holzer, and crowd-pulling works by Manet ( The Gypsy, far right), Mondrian and Ai Weiwei.