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Third in a series of major public exhibitions before the opening of Zayed National Museum, A History of the World in 100 Objects presented by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), in collaboration with the British Museum, is in its final days and will conclude on 1 August. Offering visitors the opportunity to travel back in time and across the globe, the exhibition brought to life the human relationship with objects and how history plays an important role in teaching us about who we are and where we came from.
Initially created as a radio series by the BBC, this is the first time it has been created as a physical exhibition. A History of the World in 100 Objects showcased some of the world’s most compelling objects such as the large granite statue of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II discovered on Elephantine Island at the Temple of Khnum and the famous Royal Game of Ur, found in a royal cemetery in southern Iraq, estimated to be around 4,500 years old.
The rich content was brought to life through an extensive public programme created by TCA Abu Dhabi including 72 workshops attended by more than 4,000 participants which supported teaching through objects. Audiences of all ages were given the chance to learn more about the importance of objects throughout history and how they can shape the way we understand the world today. Supporting this educative aspect to the exhibition, these workshops were complemented by the two public lectures that were given by the exhibition’s curator Becky Allen and the Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor.
TCA Abu Dhabi also organised a dynamic Artscape evening that celebrated the world’s shared history through a colourful array of live performances and interactive workshops; such as the Magic Mirror performance by the renowned gu qin player Wu Na and contemporary artist Feng Mengbo on drums.
Salama Al Shamsi, Project Manager, Zayed National Museum said: “Bridging centuries and geographical borders, the exhibition gave visitors the opportunity to witness how humans have shaped the world, and been shaped by it, through an exploration of some of the world’s most iconic objects.”
“The success and popularity of A History of the World in 100 Objects has given us great insight into the kind of content that interests UAE audiences, and therefore, great belief in the content that will be celebrated by Zayed National Museum, where similar themes will be addressed when telling our story and our own history. With the exhibition drawing to a close on August 1st, I would urge anyone who has not yet visited to take some time to enjoy.”
Zayed National Museum will celebrate the unification of the Emirates and their transformation into a modern nation under Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918–2004) – the ‘Father of the Nation,’ within the context of the Middle East and the wider world. Designed for the public, the museum will enable visitors to encounter an unparalleled collection of art and artefacts from ancient and living cultures of the UAE, Arabia and the wider Middle East.
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