Tuesday, September 12, 2023 – 3:50 p.m
ABU DHABI, 12th September, 2017 (WAM) – His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of Louvre Abu Dhabi, inaugurated the latest exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi, “Letters of Light,” which displays a collection of the oldest sacred texts in the three monotheistic religions, and will continue until next January 14.
The exhibition, held in partnership with the French National Library and the French Museums Foundation, sheds light on the historical context in which the holy books appeared, and will explain the way they were transmitted over the years, in addition to revealing the scientific and spiritual practices associated with them and their essential role in global intellectual and artistic history.
Visitors to the exhibition, which includes more than 240 works of art, will have the opportunity to explore the most important and beautiful manuscripts of the Qur’an, the Bible, and the Torah, in addition to artistic masterpieces from the collections of the French National Library, the Louvre Museum in Paris, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
The displayed collection includes manuscripts, photographs, graphic arts, three-dimensional works of art, textiles, and paintings from all over the world.
The exhibition will provide its visitors with a contemporary vision by displaying an artwork called “The Invisible” by Saudi visual artist Muhannad Shono, which is an installation in which threads representing the three religions meet metaphorically through a meditative experience.
Manuel Rabate, Director of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: The “Letters of Light” exhibition enables its visitors to embark on a journey of deep contemplation to explore the delicate interaction between creativity and spiritual aspects. This exhibition is a distinguished collection that includes “The Holy Bible, Sauvignon’s Edition,” and paintings. Magnificent such as the “Virgin and Child” by Giovanni Bellini, in addition to stunning artifacts such as the “Key of the Kaaba,” and through this distinguished collection, the exhibition highlights the common origins of the three heavenly religions, each of which embodies the meaning of beauty and knowledge.
He continued, saying: “It is an honor for us to cooperate with the French National Library and the French Museums Foundation to organize this exhibition, which strengthens cultural ties and supports their development.”
For his part, Laurent Ericet, Head of the Oriental Manuscripts Department at the French National Library, said that the exhibition includes a group of the oldest and most important books and manuscripts, in addition to distinguished calligraphic works of art with wonderful decorations, as it emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the messages of the Qur’an, the Bible, and the Torah, in addition to highlighting the moral dimension inherent in These three religions highlight their pivotal role in shaping intellectual history and artistic history at the global level. This is fully in line with the global dimension of Louvre Abu Dhabi as a common arena for promoting dialogue, as it accommodates various cultures with the aim of highlighting the stories of shared humanity that transcend the boundaries of civilizations, eras and places.
For her part, Dr. Thuraya Njeim, Director of the Islamic Arts Department at the Louvre Museum, and former Director of the Department of Art Collections, Museum Curators and Scientific Research at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: By shedding light on the events and personalities mentioned in texts from the three monotheistic religions, we seek to deepen understanding. Visitors to these holy books, giving them an opportunity to contemplate the rich history of these sacred texts and explore their forms, languages, and the texts they contain.
The “Letters of Light” exhibition embodies an exceptional moment to contemplate a group of rare works represented in the monotheistic holy books and other works of art that are displayed alongside them. These artworks include archaeological pieces such as “A Sheet from the Blue Qur’an,” where we see the interpretation of the exhibition’s title, “Letters of Light,” between its lines. The words of this fairly modern work are written in gold letters that contrast with the dark blue background. What causes the viewer to contemplate.
Imad Al-Ali/Reem Al-Hajri
