The Funerals of Monna Lisa, 21 Oct 2009

THE FUNERALS OF MONNA LISA, A SERIES OF MONUMENTAL PAINTINGS, TO BE PRESENTED BY ABU DHABI ART

For the first time, series by Yan Pei-Ming to be exhibited outside of the Louvre at Emirates Palace 19 – 22 November, 2009

ABU DHABI, 21 October 2009 — In partnership with the Louvre museum, Abu Dhabi Art will present The Funerals of Monna Lisa, a series of monumental paintings by renowned Chinese artist Yan Pei-Ming. This installation will be one part of the rich platform of cultural events created specifically for the inaugural edition of Abu Dhabi Art, an innovative platform for modern and contemporary art taking place at Emirates Palace from 19 to 22 November, 2009.

Conveying the artist´s singular perspective on the most famous painting in the Louvre´s collection, Leonardo da Vinci´s Monna Lisa, the series will be installed in the main foyer of Emirates Palace under Yan Pei-Ming´s personal supervision. In this way, the epitome of European painting will be reinterpreted by a Chinese-born artist within the setting of the Middle East—a striking example of how Abu Dhabi Art is at a crossroads of global culture, in line with Abu Dhabi’s vision of fostering a rich dialogue between cultures.

“The goal of Abu Dhabi’s cultural programme is to help make Abu Dhabi a place where our people express their talents and exchange ideas and insights with other people from around the world—a place where cultural dialogue builds bridges among people,” stated Mubarak Al Muhairi, Managing Director of Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC). “In this sense, there can be no better realisation of our aspiration than to present Yan Pei-Ming’s extraordinary series—which is symbolic of the plurality of culture and universality of art—during Abu Dhabi Art, a new milestone in the evolution of Abu Dhabi into a global centre of arts and culture.”

The Funerals of Monna Lisa was first exhibited at the Louvre in spring 2009 as part of a contemporary art programme curated by Marie-Laure Bernadac under the supervision of Henri Loyrette, Director of the Louvre.

“The installation of The Funerals of Monna Lisa in Abu Dhabi is a symbol of the Louvre’s presence today in the Emirates and of the museum’s collaboration with Abu Dhabi to create the extraordinary and unique Louvre Abu Dhabi,” stated Henri Loyrette, President Director of the Louvre. “The universality of the Louvre is recalled here at this time of globalisation through the strong link that is made between the museum’s exceptional collections and contemporary artistic creation. It emphasises the power of a great work of art to unite the people of all nations regardless of their differences. ”

The five canvases that make up The Funerals of Monna Lisa tell a tale of different points in time surrounding the famous painting as well as the painter’s life, reflecting upon the cycle of life and death, the strength of family, and the power of painting. Painted predominantly in white—a color associated with mourning in China—the canvases include a depiction of Monna Lisa with tears in her eyes, two landscapes scattered with skulls, and intimate portraits of the artist and his father.

The exhibition of The Funerals of Monna Lisa in Abu Dhabi is one part of the inaugural edition of Abu Dhabi Art, which will feature presentations by 50 leading art dealers and innovative new galleries from the four corners of the world, as well as a wide selection of cultural events, many of them developed with partners, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York University Abu Dhabi, Paris Sorbonne-University Abu Dhabi, Vitra Design Museum and the Sharjah Foundation. The rich roster of special exhibitions, public programmes and cultural events will be a must-see event for an audience of collectors, artists, designers, art dealers, curators, critics and art lovers from the region and around the world.

About Abu Dhabi Art
Abu Dhabi Art is a major new annual platform in modern and contemporary art, with an introduction to design, organised by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Conceived as a new, boutique-style art fair, it brings together an exclusive selection of leading art dealers and innovative new galleries from the four corners of the world and surrounds them with an exceptionally rich schedule of special exhibitions, public programmes and cultural events. As an integral part of the Emirate’s long-term agenda for transforming the capital, an ancient and modern crossroads of culture and trade, into a global city of the 21st century, Abu Dhabi Art will welcome collectors, artists, designers, art dealers, curators, critics and art lovers from around the world. Abu Dhabi Art will be presented for the first time from 19 to 22 November 2009, as institutions including the Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum and the Louvre Abu Dhabi rise on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island and build their world-class collections. Abu Dhabi Art is honoured to have the enthusiastic support of HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd as Principal Sponsor. Organizers also thank Associate Sponsors Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Audi Middle East, Official Cargo Carrier Etihad Crystal Cargo, Host Sponsor Emirates Palace, and Official Provider Abu Dhabi National Hotels, Apple and Sunraysia Five Star. Media Partners include CNN International, Abu Dhabi Media Company (The National), Bidoun, Canvas, The Art Newspaper, ArtNexus, and TimeOut Abu Dhabi. Information on Abu Dhabi Art is updated frequently, as the opening of the inaugural edition approaches. For full current details and the latest updates, please visit www.abudhabiartfair.ae.

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About Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) is a master developer of key cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi. The principal goal of its cultural programme, up to and including the creation of the Saadiyat Island Cultural District – the world’s largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions – is to establish an international platform in the UAE for arts and culture.

Unprecedented in scale and scope, the Saadiyat Island Cultural District will include museums such as the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, all due for completion in 2012/2013. Education is essential to fulfilling TDIC’s mission, and this initiative provides opportunities for the local and regional community to participate in programming of the highest quality and to be engaged in the city’s urban, cultural and artistic development, while enabling Emiratis and UAE residents to develop professional skills and knowledge through a dialogue with representatives from the world’s leading cultural organizations.

Alongside the Cultural District project, TDIC presents a diversified programme of art exhibitions, events and talks aimed at all levels to further engage audiences in the arts.
For more information visit www.artsabudhabi.ae; www.tdic.ae

About Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH)
Established in 2005 as the cultural authority of the Government of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) has far-sighted aspirations to harness the pride of the people of the UAE through the development of its cultural heritage and to be the leading cultural development organization in the region. ADACH is committing its resources to the preservation of heritage as well as to the development of Emirati, regional and international arts, music, literature, and cinema. This vision is open to everyone in the Middle East, the Arab world and beyond. Through its major initiative entitled the “ADACH Platform for the Visual Arts,” the Authority will bring together important contributions from contemporary artists from the Gulf and from throughout the Arab world. It will also present a futuristic vision of Abu Dhabi as a place where living traditions and contemporary culture come together in a new dynamic space. ADACH has already lined up a number of structures and initiatives to fulfill its strategic objectives in fields including green building design, museum development, excellence in curatorial and museum studies, cultural infrastructure development, film industry, translation and publishing, among others. Abu Dhabi Art, organised in partnership with TDIC, serves the objectives of this strategy.

For more information on ADACH, news and initiatives please visit www.adach.ae.

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