EVENTS HAPPENING THIS FEBRUARY AT THE LOUVRE ABU DHABI

As part of Abu Dhabi Innovation Week, Louvre Abu Dhabi will host a week-long festival of sound innovation and artificial intelligence from 5–10 February.

The festival programme will include the world premiere of a musical creation, Symphony of the Elements, by AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist) commissioned by Louvre Abu Dhabi, along with a sound installation and performance by Soundwalk Collective, Mirage, marking the end of the Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia exhibition which has toured internationally.

A close up into the Louvre Abu Dhabi programme

Symphony of the Elements

6 February, 7 pm

Symphony of the Elements. Photo by Lance Bachelder

Symphony of the Elements is a commissioned composition by AIVA, which composes emotional soundtrack music, for Louvre Abu Dhabi. The performance, composed of five pieces of music (three to five minutes each), is linked to the five elements surrounding the museum: water, steel, stone, wind and sand. It brings together, from Bait Al Oud, Dr. Fathullah Ahmed Salih, music composer and vocal teacher; the Iraqi traditional oud player, Sadiq Jaafar; and young talent singer, Nejma Al Koor, in addition to the Bulgarian Sofia Session Orchestra.

The performance will be followed by a conference with Pierre Barreau, co-founder and CEO of AIVA, who will present the process of creating this unique musical piece.

Pierre Barreau, co-founder and CEO of Aiva

The event will take place on 6 February 7-8 pm at the museum auditorium and will be free upon reservation through Louvre Abu Dhabi’s website.

Soundwalk Collective: Mirage Live Performance, linked to the Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia Exhibition (closing on 16 February)

Live performance, 7 February, 5–9 pm

Soundwalk Collective (Stephan Crasneanscki, Simone Merli). Photo by Vanina Sorrenti, 2019

The performance consists of a live rendition of ‘Mirage’ using 24 speakers, Verbos synthesiser, and a unique instrument, the “Crystal Baschet Venise.’’ This is a unique live performance by Stephan Crasneanscki and Simone Merli of Soundwalk Collective, the New York- and Berlin-based art collective under the dome.

Mirage is supported by the Succession Frères Baschet, the Association Structures Sonores Baschet and the Analogue Foundation. The installation will be accessible on 7 February at the Auditorium Plaza during museum open hours and can be accessed with the museum admission ticket.

Soundwalk Collective: A multi-channel sound installation, linked to exhibition the Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia

5 – 10 February

Soundwalk Collective – Singing Sand

Between 2010 and 2018, Soundwalk Collective travelled across the Rub’ al Khali desert several times to record an acoustic phenomenon known as the ‘Singing Sand’ – a sand that produces sound, caused by wind passing over the dunes. A 24-speaker multichannel installation plunges visitors into this journey between the deserts of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Ephemeral, volatile melodies appear and disappear as a sonic illusion creating a meditative atmosphere.

The installation will be accessible 5–10 February at the Auditorium Plaza during museum open hours and can be accessed with the museum admission ticket.

Ongoing exhibition closing soon: Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia

Monumental Statues at Roads of Arabia Exhibition Louvre Abu Dhabi

Louvre Abu Dhabi’s current exhibition, Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia will be on display throughout Innovation Week and until 16 February 2019. The exhibition explores the rich history of the Arabian Peninsula through archaeological and cultural artefacts, including a selection of rare pieces from the United Arab Emirates.

Visitors can book a Roads of Arabia guided exhibition tour and explore the archaeological artworks and masterpieces illustrating an unprecedented panorama of different cultures that occupied the Arabian Peninsula from prehistory to the modern era. The tour runs daily at 3 pm for 60 minutes, at AED 52.20 per person.

Entrance to the exhibition is free with the museum ticket. Children under 13 enter the museum free. For more information on the exhibition or ticket bookings, please visit www.louvreabudhabi.ae or call Louvre Abu Dhabi at +971 600 56 55 66.

LOUVRE ABU DHABI | Saadiyat Island, Cultural District | www.louvreabudhabi.ae

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