ABU DHABI 21 October 2018: Louvre Abu Dhabi will host a ‘Big in Japan’ weekend, in celebration of Japanese culture inspired by the museum’s international exhibition Japanese Connections: The Birth of Modern Décor exhibition.
Starting Thursday 25 October and running until Saturday 27 October, the weekend will kick off with two nights of performance by Japanese Turntable Symphonograph Orchestra, reconstructing classical music by spinning vinyl records, using turntables and mixers as their instruments of choice. Some of the world’s best DJs are featured in the orchestra including DJ Rena, the youngest ever world champion of the DMC World DJ Championship and DJ IKU who won the competition in 2012.
On Friday 26 October, Award-winning Emirati spoken-word artist Afra Atiq, will perform a new poem inspired by the contrasting colours of the artworks within the Japanese Connections exhibition space. On the same day, the first film of the Anime film screenings is Emara, a web video series featuring the titular superheroine fighting crime in the UAE, followed by a discussion with Hind Mezaina and Maryam Al Atouly. Maryam will also host a three hour Master Class at the Manga Lab on how to write Manga.
Saturday October 27 will see the continuation of the Anime film screenings with Big Hero 6, an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, and The Tale of Princess Kaguya, a story of a bamboo cutter who finds a miniature girl and takes her home to his wife so they can bring her up as their daughter.
Visitors will also get to see the final touches being placed on a large-scale three panel mural, co-created by Dubai-based artist Marwan Shakarchi (Myneandyours), known for his cloud doodles around the city, and students from the Aisha Bint Abi Bakr School and the American Community School in Abu Dhabi. The artwork, inspired by Japanese Manga and wood printing from the Japanese Connections exhibition, is part of the ARTogether: School Street Art Project with Myneandyours, which will be completed during the Big in Japan weekend.
All of the spoken-word performance, film screenings and the ARTogether project are free with the museum’s admission ticket. The Turntable Symphonograph Orchestra is a ticketed event, with tickets available to purchase and book online for Dh100 (including VAT).
Japanese Connections: The Birth of Modern Décor exhibition showcases 19th and 20th century paintings, prints and folding screens that highlight the artistic and cultural dialogue between Japan and France, and the important influence of the colourful ukiyo-e aesthetics on French modern decor.
Big in Japan Weekend programme details
| Programme | Type | Date | Time | Location | Description | Price |
| Big in Japan weekend | Event – weekend of activities | 25 – 27 Oct 2018 | Louvre Abu Dhabi | Join us at Louvre Abu Dhabi for a weekend of engaging performances, film screenings, workshops and more inspired by Japanese aesthetic and culture. • Turntable Symphonograph Orchestra • Schools Street Art Project • Spoken Word • Anime Film Screenings • Manga Lab Workshops |
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| Big in Japan weekend
The Turntable Symphonograph Orchestra |
Event – Music | 25 – 26 Oct 2018 | 8pm | Louvre Abu Dhabi, Auditorium Plaza | Enjoy a performance by the first musical ensemble to use turntables and mixers as their instruments of choice. The exciting Japanese Turntable Symphonograph Orchestra, featuring Japan’s finest DJs and DMC Championship winners, reconstructs classical music by spinning vinyl records with a variety of musical techniques. | Price per person: AED 100 (including VAT)
Please book your ticket at louvreabudhabi.ae, by calling +971 600 56 55 66 or at the museum ticketing desk. |
| Big in Japan weekend
ARTogether: School Street Art Project with Myneandyours |
Exhibition | 26 – 27 Oct 2018 | Museum opening hours | Louvre Abu Dhabi, Studio1 & 2 | Celebrate the big reveal of the first time collaboration between Abu Dhabi Schools and renowned street artist, Myneandyours, as they add the final strokes to their murals. | Entry included with museum admission fee. |
| Big in Japan weekend
Anime Film Screening: |
Film screening | 26-Oct-18 | 2pm | Louvre Abu Dhabi, Auditorium | Japanese animation has influenced every aspect of the entertainment world. Discover why by watching several fascinating examples, carefully chosen by Hind Mezaina, from Japanese animation fantasy to Emirati superheroes.
Emara |
Admission to screening is free.
Please pre-book your ticket at louvreabudhabi.ae, by calling +971 600 56 55 66 or at the museum ticketing desk. **Refer to Film Ratings Guide. |
| Big in Japan weekend
Spoken word performance |
Event – poetry | 26-Oct-18 | 3pm and 6pm | Louvre Abu Dhabi, Exhibitions Hall | This poignant poem takes its inspiration from the contrasting colours of the Japanese Connections’ artwork and creates a concoction of word play, language and pace. Afra Atiq’s mesmerising and award-winning oratory performances are thought provoking and admirable. | Entry included with museum admission fee. |
| Manga Lab Master class: How to write a Manga (ages 13+) | Master class | 26-Oct-18 | 4 – 7pm | Louvre Abu Dhabi, The Forum | How to write a Manga with Maryam Al Atouly | Entry included with museum admission fee. |
| Big in Japan weekend
Anime Film Screening: |
Film screening | 27-Oct-18 | 3pm | Louvre Abu Dhabi, Auditorium | Japanese animation has influenced every aspect of the entertainment world. Discover why by watching several fascinating examples, carefully chosen by Hind Mezaina, from Japanese animation fantasy to Emirati superheroes.
Big Hero 6 |
Admission to screening is free.
Please pre-book your ticket at louvreabudhabi.ae, by calling +971 600 56 55 66 or at the museum ticketing desk. **Refer to Film Ratings Guide. |
| Manga Lab Master class: Japanese Printing (ages 13+) | Master class | 27-Oct-18 | 4 – 7pm | Louvre Abu Dhabi, The Forum | Japanese Printing with Elena Smyrniotis | Entry included with museum admission fee. |
| Big in Japan weekend
Anime Film Screening: |
Film screening | 27-Oct-18 | 6pm | Louvre Abu Dhabi, Auditorium | Japanese animation has influenced every aspect of the entertainment world. Discover why by watching several fascinating examples, carefully chosen by Hind Mezaina, from Japanese animation fantasy to Emirati superheroes.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya |
Admission to screening is free.
Please pre-book your ticket at louvreabudhabi.ae, by calling +971 600 56 55 66 or at the museum ticketing desk. **Refer to Film Ratings Guide. |
*Reduced price is valid for Art Club Members, UAE Teachers, Young people aged 22 and under and UAE Military.
**Film Rating Guide
- In accordance with UAE National Media Agency:
- PG13: Some content may not be appropriate for children aged 13 years and below, booking should be at the discretion of guardians and parents. Customer may be aged 13 years and under provided he/she is accompanied by someone aged 13 years old or older.
- 15+: No persons under 15 years of age will be admitted. No infants allowed.
- Big Hero 6 and The Tale of Princess Kaguya have been officially rated by the UAE rating agency, NMC. Louvre Abu Dhabi has provided its recommended rating for Emara, Ascent and The Magnificent Seven based on its assessment of the film’s content and themes. Ratings are for customer guidance only and Louvre Abu Dhabi accepts no liability for their accuracy.
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s opening hours:
- 10am – 8pm | Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday
- 10am – 10pm | Thursday, Friday
- Last entry and purchase is 30 minutes prior to closing
- Closed on Mondays