Louvre Abu Dhabi added to its digital offering by releasing a 20-minute cinematic podcast entitled WE ARE NOT ALONE. Composed and produced by SOUNDWALK COLLECTIVE, an experimental group of artists and musicians, this podcast invites audiences to discover Louvre Abu Dhabi’s unique architecture through a science-fiction narrative. The podcast is accompanied by a short film that reimagines the museum as the backdrop to this poetic tale that takes place in a post-human galaxy thousands of years in the future.
WE ARE NOT ALONE by Soundwalk Collective is available on Louvre Abu Dhabi’s website https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/en/Whats-Online/we-are-not-alone in six languages. The story is narrated in the voices of renowned international talents including Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi in Arabic, American actor Willem Dafoe in English, French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg in French and English, Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu in Mandarin, Russian is narrated by DJ, singer and producer Nina Kraviz, and German by filmmaker and playwright Wim Wenders.
The work utilises an original script written by Stéphan Crasneanscki. The story draws on the unique geometry, architecture and concepts behind Louvre Abu Dhabi’s creation. The experience begins with a message from Louvre Abu Dhabi’s architect Jean Nouvel, recorded for future generations. A narrator then places the audience within the tale’s futuristic world, inviting them to imagine the museum’s surroundings in a galaxy that has survived long after human extinction. Posing questions on free will, human nature and destiny, the experience reflects on the human condition in a dystopian future ruled by Artificial Intelligence.
HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi commented: “In these unprecedented times, museums have a responsibility to encourage optimism and positivity in society. I am proud to see Louvre Abu Dhabi fulfilling this role and continuing to boost public morale with ever new and innovative campaigns. WE ARE NOT ALONE by Soundwalk Collective is a beautiful example of this. Mirroring the multiculturalism of its home city, Louvre Abu Dhabi has managed to bring the world to Abu Dhabi as seven high-profile talents from around the globe come together to help produce an exceptional experience. With this innovative science-fiction podcast, Louvre Abu Dhabi pushes the boundaries of creativity while complementing its many new digital initiatives.”
“Louvre Abu Dhabi tells the story of art history throughout the ages,” added Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi. “As we always look for new ways to experiment and innovate, we continue to explore new narratives inspired by our architecture and collection. WE ARE NOT ALONE is yet another example of our innovative approach to sharing stories of cultural connections,” he added.
Commenting on the commission, Stéphan Crasneanscki and Simone Merli from SOUNDWALK COLLECTIVE said: “WE ARE NOT ALONE allows audiences to ‘lose themselves’ as they imagine or walk under Louvre Abu Dhabi’s iconic dome and the dynamic dimensions that the museum offers. The experience creates a dialogue between past and present civilisations – as represented throughout Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection – and creates an imaginative future where humanity has taken on a completely new form. The various narrators of this audio creation interact with each other through a script that transcends borders, languages, geographies and cultures.”
The podcast represents the first part of the collaboration with SOUNDWALK COLLECTIVE, offering a preview of an on-site 40-minute audio tour that will be available to visitors through Louvre Abu Dhabi’s multimedia guide at a later stage.
WE ARE NOT ALONE by Soundwalk Collective is part of Louvre Abu Dhabi’s extensive digital offering, providing free access to more content through virtual tours, video, audio and downloadable activities. These include opportunities to explore and discover the museum’s collection and exhibitions through the museum’s website and mobile app and “Art From Home” online resources; make and play, a series of online videos and colouring activities for families and children, and rich digital learning resources for teachers to engage with their students. As part of a partnership with anghami, the MENA region’s largest music streaming app, the museum has also launched a series of curated playlists to experience the museum’s collection in a different way. Inspired by the museum’s masterpieces, the hand-selected tracks feature a range of eclectic music genres.
Louvre Abu Dhabi is also participating in CulturAll, a new initiative launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi to bring the emirate’s cultural landmarks online for audiences to enjoy their offerings from home. Follow @abudhabiculture and #CulturAll and stay tuned for experiences from the museum.
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