Brand Creative Dubai visits the Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened officially on 11 November 2017 and it’s been no secret that here in the Brand Creative Dubai office we’ve been eagerly anticipating the opening since the project was announced, as have the local and international press. Naturally, we couldn’t resist the chance to attend the opening of ‘one of the most ambitious cultural projects in the world’, so a couple of us secured passes for the opening day within hours of them being released!  With the project having been so well publicised over the recent months, the first visit had a lot to live up to – Was the perforated dome really as stunning as the circulation of professional photographs that we’d seen? Were the collections of International art enough to satisfy our craving for design inspiration? Would we want to come back? All our rhetorical questions were resolved with a decisive ‘yes’. The illustrious dome covering the building creates anticipation as you approach the area and is genuinely interesting to observe, reflecting the light to transform the ambience of space throughout the different phases of the day. On arrival into the plaza, we were fortunate enough to witness the incredible ‘Awa Troupe of Sangha’ Dogon masked dance (pictured), before making our way into the main gallery space. The inner arrangement is made up of minimal white structures that host the diverse collections of artwork, curated in collections of time-period, rather than origin. This method reflects the premise of the location as being a symbol of unification and acceptance whilst containing priceless works from the likes of Picasso and Da Vinci that would appease even the most demanding of art critics. The space really feels like a space to explore and discover, with unconventional spatial planning that allows for a smooth visitor journey yet not being too predictable. Until next time, Louvre AD! By Helen Ring, Brand Creative Dubai Studio Manager