In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), art has become a staple of the country’s infrastructure, presented through impressive museum structures that decorate the Arabian Gulf with profound curation and architectural wonder. Generally, the UAE has not been considered an area of artistic presence, due to its short history. Nonetheless, despite its status as a young nation, birthed only fifty years ago, the UAE has made conscious efforts to enhance public access to art, identifying its benefit for solidifying cultural and intellectual engagement amongst tourists, expatriates and native residents. As art evolves worldwide, the UAE provides a universal model for achieving cultural and economic marvels, emerging at the forefront of museology and art movements, and perhaps even transcending current efforts made by trailblazing museums in other corners of the globe.
Perhaps the UAE’s most impressive achievement so far, the Louvre Abu Dhabi was inaugurated in 2017, now floating on the ocean with abundant reflections of light emanating from its unique dome shape. Internally, the museum obeys the traditions of the original Louvre in Paris, housing numerous classical collections from Mondrian to Manet. More authentically, Middle Eastern art comprises a large portion of the permanent collection to promote its value. The museum’s novel emphasis is restricted to Middle Eastern art, an ample platform to enhance understanding of the small portion of Islamic art present in the original Louvre. Here, a contained focus on Middle Eastern art improves upon the original focus in the Louvre, and grants the artistic genre more room to expand and cultivate influence for observers. With a similar mission, neighbouring the Louvre, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi forms another impressive structure, designed by renowned American architect Frank Gehry, who previously championed the sister museum in Bilbao. Following in the Louvre’s footsteps, the Guggenheim aims to be completed by the end of 2025 and will showcase its permanent collection of contemporary Middle Eastern and other forms of international art, alongside temporary exhibitions specifically focused on themes of performance, light and artistic spectacle. Whilst the Guggenheim in New York showcases ample Middle Eastern art, the breadth of related exhibits naturally covers other art forms. Therefore, the new design in Abu Dhabi enables a specific focus on Middle Eastern art alongside other forms, which is beneficial for its promotion and revitalised global presence. Collectively, the international reputation of both museums immediately places Abu Dhabi, UAE, at the forefront of modern curation and museology, and magnifies the voice of Middle Eastern art in a globally renowned institution.
In conjunction, the UAE’s artistic mission is not limited to the acquisition of established global institutions; indeed, the nation’s artistic profile is amplified by its authentic voice, touching on vibrant national heritage and modern creations. For instance, the Zayed National Museum poses as the national museum of the UAE, primarily focused on the powerful achievements of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan. Deriving inspiration from the UAE’s new Louvre and Guggenheim, Zayed National Museum was designed by British architect Norman Foster, producing a colossal structure of five grey falcon wings extending ethereally into the sky. The design is directly owed to a pivotal national symbol, as the falcon represents bravery and perseverance for numerous Emiratis. Here, the UAE’s museum design draws inspiration from other museums, yet achieves a novel level of depth in the correlation of the falcon with national heritage and pride. In the dawn of the nation, falcons aided Bedouin tribes as they wandered across the desert, providing necessary guidance with hunting and navigation. Thus, the museum’s exterior exudes the core spirit of Emirati voyage, previously implemented by Sheikh Zayed in his inspirational transformation of the country through sustainability, practicality and collaboration.
Thus, from the example of the Zayed National Museum, the UAE’s cultural district appears to extend beyond the successes of other nations through its unique combination of cultural and international depth. Another similar achievement is the Abrahamic Family House, which consists of a church, synagogue and mosque arranged in a triad shape. Here, placing different religious entities and ideologies next to one another symbolizes a novel harmony, traditions and beliefs. Arguably, the structural presentation of theological harmony forms a new artistic movement, replacing the bounds of ideological strife with tolerance and cohesive engagement. In the triad of the Abrahamic Family House, visitors can indulge in their respective faiths, and yet simultaneously embrace traditionally different faiths beside them. Through its placement in the heart of the cultural district, only a few minutes from the Louvre, Guggenheim and Zayed National Museum, the Abrahamic Family House epitomizes a grounding principle of museology and exhibition: the ability to connect humans through expression and creativity.
Traditionally, these major art museums and cultural structures would not be in the same area. Nonetheless, the UAE’s cultural vision identifies the modern value of rejecting said tradition by exploring the benefits of creative tolerance across different faiths, styles of art, and practices of culture. Whilst the Louvre showcases traditional classical art, the Guggenheim prides itself on contemporary enigmas. Their parallel location enables visitors to embrace polarized artistic conceptions and thus realize their potential preferences or potential appreciation of both. Moreover, the enhanced presence of Middle Eastern art incites a new pathway for international interpretations of artistic expression and craft, providing homage to the unique genre in isolation. Similarly, the union of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in the Abrahamic Family House conquers barriers of religious faith, instead providing opportunities to appreciate all forms of devotion without any scrutiny or admonishment. Finally, the Emirati pride exuded by the Zayed National Museum anchors the myriad of cultural and artistic fusions rapidly growing in the district, informing others of the importance of cultural identity for approaching new creative interpretations worldwide. The enhanced presence of Middle Eastern art incites a new pathway for international interpretations of artistic expression and craft, providing homage to the unique genre in isolation. Perhaps considered utopic by some, the UAE’s cultural district forms an indisputable bridge between cultures, art forms and faiths, achieving a unique feat grounded in moral values and the sheer essence of humanity, by amplifying cultural voice and reorienting structural presentation.
