New rotations

October and November has been busy months in the museum with new loans arriving, some artwork switching places and rotations in the galleries. That is always an exciting time, even if it means a lot of research and study to keep up with whatever is turning up on the walls!

Here are a few of the new additions, like for example a blue Picasso from 1944:

Some new Scandinavian pieces, in the design display that now plays homage to wood, the most timeless of materials. Here for example the WARM Coffee and Tea set from Tonfisk, a Finish design company; and beautiful and extremely thin bowls by Merete Larsen, from Denmark:

The Ruhlman apartment has also got a facelift and now that is also filled with design objects, from about 100 years ago:

And the 17th century cabinet has now got wall paper, furniture, decorations and paintings - so pretty!

But the best make-over is mounting the Hunts of Maximilian tapestries, displayed in a room only for them. These four pieces were originally commissioned for Louis XIV, by his minister Colbert. They are part of a set of 12 works, produced in the Royal Manufactory of the Gobelins; although only these four are known still to exist, all belonging to the Louvre Abu Dhabi. These were the first artworks to be restored on site here.

The biggest star at the moment is this painting, St John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci. It's a prestigious loan from the Louvre in Paris, celebrating the 5th anniversary, and it will be here for the next two years.

One of my favourites amongst the new rotations is this Kupka Around a Point, from 1925-30. I am really drawn to the colours of this painting, and have included it in my tour.

Finally we have also some temporary installations in the galleries, by Michelangelo Pistoletto. There are eleven of these mirror paintings spread around. I had no idea they were coming, and they actually scared me as I spotted the first one - ha ha!

These are really fascinating, in a way it is "active" art. The viewers and the surroundings become included in the work and makes them "self-portraits of the world". You could look at them as doors connecting art and life! Looking forward to seeing more visitors engaging with them in the months to come.