‘From Kalīla wa Dimna to La Fontaine: Travelling through Fables.’ Delve into a captivating collection of ancient tales and illustrated narratives
Louvre Abu Dhabi launches its first exhibition of the year, From Kalīla wa Dimna to La Fontaine: Travelling through Fables.
This groundbreaking exhibition, inaugurated by HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the museum, is a collaboration with Bibliothèque nationale de France and France Muséums, generously supported by Van Cleef & Arpels.
The exhibition showcases a remarkable collection of ancient tales and illustrated fables, offering visitors a unique journey through time.
Curated by Annie Vernay-Nouri, Former Chief Curator of the Oriental Manuscripts Department at Bibliothèque nationale de France, the exhibition draws inspiration from traditional illustrated fables.
With over 132 artworks on display, including rare manuscripts, paintings, and contemporary works, the exhibition unveils the timeless narratives of friendship, loyalty, cunning, and morality, as portrayed through anthropomorphic animal characters.
Fables, a genre of literature found in various cultures worldwide, typically consist of short stories featuring animals or inanimate objects with human-like qualities.
These stories convey moral lessons and teach readers about human behavior, entertaining while imparting wisdom and values.
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The exhibition traces the origins of fables in India and Greece, highlighting the contributions of key figures such as Aesop and Ibn al-Muqaffa.
It showcases how the Arabic translation of Ibn Al-Muqaffa played a pivotal role in inspiring subsequent translations, such as the Persian and French versions that Jean de La Fontaine based his translations on.
Dr Guilhem André, Acting Director for Scientific, Curatorial, and Collections Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi, expressed excitement about the exhibition’s ability to showcase the timeless power of fables from different cultures and eras, inviting visitors to explore universal themes and lessons found in these stories.
The exhibition, divided into three main sections – Travelling Tales, Telling Stories, and The Fables Today – offers visitors a journey through texts over time, exploring various adaptations and translations.
Notable pieces from France, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will be on display, including the oldest illustrated manuscript of Kalīla wa Dimna, dating back to the Ayyubid dynasty.
As part of the museum’s continuous efforts to offer compelling experiences, Louvre Abu Dhabi is utilising artificial intelligence for the first time within mediation devices for this exhibition.
Visitors can create their own fable via touch tables and download their composition by scanning a QR code, customizing characters and moral lessons to share with loved ones.
To complement the exhibition, Louvre Abu Dhabi has curated a range of cultural and educational programmes, including curatorial talks, film screenings, and discussions on various aspects of fables. Details of these programmes will be announced soon.
For more information about the exhibition and to book tickets, visit Louvre Abu Dhabi or call 600 56 55 66
Date
26 March to 21 July 2024
Location
Louvre Abu Dhabi
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