The Louvre of Abu Dhabi is a “sanctuary” to great works of art but is also a work of art itself, one of the world’s urban wonders. It is fascinating architectural and engineering feat designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. Part of its uniqueness comes from the fact that it rises up off the island of Saadiyat and is surrounded by the waters of the Persian Gulf. And it is precisely to allow people to appreciate and admire the structure to its fullest that it is possible to tour around the museum in a kayak. Every day, except Monday, between 5 and 7 pm, it is possible to reserve a tour and paddle around this landmark, the centrepiece of an entire neighbourhood for an hour. A “city-museum” on the sea, made up of 55 different architectural structures, inspired by the “medina” and the low-rising homes typical of Arab architecture, especially one of its most emblematic elements - the dome. A double dome of 180 metres in diameter which knowingly plays with lights and shadow, creating, both day and night, a charming effect known as a “rain of light”. At certain times of the year, it is also possible to take the kayak tour at sunrise but only on Friday and Saturday, but also on full-moon nights as well.
Expanding on the work initially presented in the UAE National Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale, the exhibition is designed to showcase the prolific artist’s work in the UAE, giving the local art community and wider audiences across the country the opportunity to encounter Al Saadi’s practice more intimately.
This exhibition highlights the ways in which iconography has been preserved and restored at different periods in history, raising crucial questions about how symbols acquire new meaning as they are continually reintroduced into contemporary contexts.
Adrian Pepe works with the wool of Awassi sheep, an ancient breed raised in Mesopotamia for over 5.000 years. A material that reveals an ecosystem and describes the process of transformation of a fleece - from wool, parasites, insects and plant matter - into a "canvas" for the artist.
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