Birth of a Museum exhibition extended

It was with a smile of delight that I greeted the news last week that the Birth of a Museum exhibition in Manarat Al Saadiyat will be extended for another month. Too many people have yet to make it to the culturally blossoming island off the coast of our capital to see the permanent collection of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in all its glory and, believe me, it would be a great shame to miss it. Sure, it has been criticised. I have heard complaints about the juxtaposition of certain items, but people will always find fault. If you ask me, this is the most important exhibition the UAE has ever held – and it is excellent. Here you will find Roman statues, a whole room dedicated to the Renaissance and part of Yves Klein’s Anthropometry series; these works, with their references to nudity, might not have been considered previously because of our nation’s values. There is also a room where a statue of Jesus stands close to a complete Torah and an ancient Quran. This exhibition is not only a sweeping look at artistic expression since the dawn of civilisation and a taster of what we can expect in 18 months when the museum opens, but is also a giant step forward in terms of the quality and content of art available to us. And you now have an extra month to see what the fuss is all about.