A new storyline

June is rotation month at the museum, and we have just finished having closures and re-routings, because of new loans and new acquisitions finding their places in the galleries. It is always exciting to see what is coming, and how the curation is done. This time I am really liking the new additions, and am looking forward to using them in presenting a new storyline on my tours!

Look at this magnificent globe by Coronelli from 1688. It is hard to see from the photo, but it measures 108 cm in diameter, it is huge!

A new acquisition for the museum, a Fragonard painting called The Marionettes, from 1770.

Another monumental painting, a portrait of Marie-Antoinette from 1788, by the female artist Elisabeth Vigée Lebrun. We have previously had another painting by her, and I really love telling her story, so I am happy that she is now back.

An orientalist painting called Ali Ben Ahmed, Caliph of Constantine and Chief of the Haractas, from 1845.

The Juggler and the Acrobats, by Fernand Léger from 1943.

Portrait de Femme Assise, by - maybe surprisingly - Pablo Picasso. A 1923 portrait of his first wife Olga, during the time of their separation, which might explain the somewhat melancholic mood. At this time Picasso had moved away from his cubist research. He traveled to Italy, and now got influenced by the ancient art.

A 1962 César Baldaccini sculpture called Compression 'Ricard'.

And maybe the most eye catching of them all, four sculptures from the gardens of Versailles, having left France for the very first time - The Four Parts of the World, after Charles Le Brun, c. 1674-1679.
These larger than life sized allegories are representing Asia, America, Europe and Africa. They measure 2,5 m in height and weight 2-2,5 tonnes each. They are very impressive and really fit in well in that gallery. They have already proven to be the perfect selfie-spot!

Game Night Farewell

It's the time of year when everything comes to a close before the summer. One more week to go until summer holiday, but as this week has been Eid holiday, many people have left early.
We had our last Game Night a couple of weeks ago, just before Midsummer, so I decorated accordingly of course! And we started the night with bubbles!

I must say dinner on the night was a success, it was super yum! Pesto and goat cheese salmon together with roasted vegetable quinoa, and an edamame and carrot salad. Mmm!

So we had some bubbly, some good food, lots of chit chat and played some games, of course! But we also had to say goodbye to one of the gang, as it was Ilze's last time. Booo!

So as we don't want to stop with our Game Nights, we are recruiting for after the summer! We'll be back!

Copenhell 2023

As June is almost over, I realise that I haven't blogged a lot. Not a lot has been going on to be honest. At least not here in Abu Dhabi.

Nathan had leave one week, and he went to Copenhagen for his very much anticipated return to Copenhell. This time WITH Lucas, and Thomas of course.

Linnea and I got sparse reports, but they had a great time. Weather was fantastic, the festival was as expected, and they managed all four days this time - being better prepared and pacing themselves more!

Good fun had by all!

Now there are only a few more weeks, and it's time for the second leave week of the summer. Nathan got one week in June, one week in July, one week in August and one week in September... Not so very handy, but we are making the best of it.

Assessment week

I spent all last week at the museum, and a few days this week, with concluding the training for the External Guides. It was time for their practical assessments, so each afternoon a group of them came to do their tours.

Our roles as instructors were to play their guests, all while at the same time assessing their knowledge, their group- and time management and how well they projected to the group.

I took down lots of notes to be able to do compare and do fair assessments across the board. It was a very long week as I went on 16 guided tours around the museum. But as heavy as that was, it was equally rewarding - and inspiring! Each guide brought me something, a new thought, a new connection, a new idea, a new perspective.
It was also an exercise in listening for me, usually being the one who is doing all the talking, ha ha!

I continue to be surprised at how much I actually thrive with all these different challenges and tasks this job keeps offering me: Enjoying delivering tours to school children? Bring it! Admin duties? Can! Training and supporting new guides? Yes please! What's next I wonder...

Shit happens

After one of many really long days at the museum last week, I had one even longer evening... Thursday night I left the office at 5.30pm, but didn't come home until well after 9pm...
Hitting the motorway, I noticed that my car was giving me a master warning, telling me with all red flashes and ding-dongs that it was overheating. I pulled over at the side of the road, and didn't quite know what to do.

Nathan told me Chad was in the city, and was about to drive home to Dubai; luckily for me he hadn't left yet. Like a knight in shining armour he picked up some water and came by to fill up the cooler.

At first it looked like it worked, but as soon as I tried driving off, my temperature gauge hit top high again; so I stopped at the side at one of the highway substations. No more option but to call Roadside Assistance, and wait.

At least while I waited I could explore the mangrove plantations going on just to the side:

And - I got to admire a beautiful sunset..!

It was 35 degrees outside, but luckily in the middle of the Saadiyat motorway there was quite a breeze so it didn't feel too hot. I just had to keep wait and wait, because the Roadside Assistance took its time.

Finally, I was saved and now the car is in the garage. Final verdict hasn't come yet, but maybe I'll go with Lucas who thought "Might be time for a new car..!". My Beast have been good for me, but it is nine years old, and I wouldn't mind a slightly smaller car now. We will see.

Cippi de Malta

There has been a lot of buzz at the museum lately about a new addition to the galleries, which were finally revealed this week - the Cippi of Malta.
These two pillars are extraordinary objects as the engravings on them hold the secrets to understanding the Phoenician language.

These two pillars (known as cippi) are loans from the Musee du Louvre in Paris, and the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta, Malta. They date to 3rd or 2nd century BCE, and were discovered in Malta at the end of the 17th century.
They were instrumental in deciphering the Phoenician alphabet in 1758 as they contain identical Phoenician and Greek inscriptions. This was done by a French archeologist, and as a thank you Malta presented one of them as a gift to Louis XVI in 1782.
So the cippi have been separated ever since - until now.

In Antiquity cippi like these were used as informative markers, as border demarcations or milestones for example.

It is always refreshing when new artworks arrive in the galleries, and I am especially excited to get the opportunity to present these cippi at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. They are very intriguing, and I am looking forward to get to share their story during my tours.