If you can’t travel the world, go to Paris and when you’re in Paris, go to the Louvre. As future posts will reveal, the Louvre has amazing exhibits from Egypt, Assyria (think Iraq), and other destinations to be revealed. Get the Museum Pass and prepare to experience the world. And, each time you exit, you’re back in Paris. There is no bad here.
And there are great new developments. The Louvre has begun construction on a huge (3,000 square metres) permanent exhibition of Isalnic art. It will open in 2010. The design includes a glass “veil” that will float above the ground and cover two floors. As you might guess, the Louvre already has one of the world’s largest and most inclusive collections of Islamic art, including carpets, glassware, imperial relics, and ceramics. Yet, most have not been seen for two decades. This is going to be wonderful.
Although some very hard-line Islamists support the destruction of non-Islamic art, which can include art produced in Muslim countries, it appears that the appetite and love for art transcends externals. According to the head curator of the Louvre’s Islamic art department, the Louvre took 136 works to Saudi Arabia (home of Wahabism) and had 400,000 visitors in two months.
The art will be fabulous. The building will be astonishing. And the experience will be stunning.
Mark your calendars – it’s only 18 months away. Time to save our dollars and euros.