The Louvre Abu Dhabi is organizing the exhibition “Spices and Wonders: Voyages across the Indian Ocean
A thousand-year journey through the crossroads of shipping and cultural exchange
- The exhibition includes more than 240 works of art from 24 An international organization from seven countries in the Arabian Gulf region, Southeast Asia and Europe.
- The exhibition features the largest participation of works from the Louvre Abu Dhabi collection since the museum opened.
Abu Dhabi(News Desk):: For over a thousand years, the Indian Ocean has served as a bridge connecting continents, facilitating the movement of precious goods and contributing to the shaping and transformation of cultures. The lands that now comprise the United Arab Emirates were a strategic link in this network of maritime routes, connecting the Arabian Peninsula to the regions of the Indian Ocean and representing a vital artery for trade, maritime navigation, and cultural exchange. . In this context, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is organizing the exhibition “Spices and Wonders: “Voyages across the Indian Ocean” in partnership with the Guimet National Museum of Asian Art in France, inviting its visitors, between October 14, 2026 and February 14, 2027, to discover this extraordinary maritime world through a journey spanning ten centuries of trade, exploration and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean, from ancient times to the seventeenth century.
Visitors to the “Spices and Wonders” exhibition explore the contributions of one of the world’s largest trade networks and its impact on shaping civilizations across Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. The exhibition traces the development of long-distance navigation across the Indian Ocean. It also highlights the role of coastal communities in the UAE within these centuries-long networks and the connections they forged with traders, sailors, and cultures throughout the region. Through more than 240 works of art, including textiles, metalwork, ceramics, sculptures, and navigational instruments, visitors discover the treasures accumulated along these maritime routes and the richness of the material and non-material exchanges that helped shape the world we know today.
The “Spices and Wonders” exhibition is curated by Dr. Guillaume André, Director of Collections, Curatorial and Research at Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Dr. Claire Deléry, Curator of the Chinese Porcelain Collection at the Guimet National Museum of Asian Art in France, with support from Fakhra Al Kindi and Dr. Andrea Rosavolgi of the Louvre Abu Dhabi team.
Dr. Guillaume André, Director of Collections, Curatorial and Research at Louvre Abu Dhabi and curator of the exhibition, said: “The ‘Spices and Marvels’ exhibition embodies the core mission of Louvre Abu Dhabi to highlight the stories that connect cultures. This exhibition, the result of a close partnership with the Guimet Museum, sheds light on the Indian Ocean as one of the most important spaces for trade and cultural exchange throughout history, and on the important historical role of the Arabian Peninsula and the UAE within these networks. From the UAE’s coasts and ports, people, goods, and ideas moved across the Indian Ocean, connecting societies in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and beyond. This inspiring narrative is particularly relevant to our region and offers an opportunity to explore the enduring ties that have linked the UAE to various parts of the Indian Ocean.”
The exhibition comprises six thematic sections that trace a path beginning with early trade and cultural exchanges in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region, culminating in a contemporary vision of the Indian Ocean as a vibrant and interconnected system. The exhibition opens with a short film by Emirati poet, visual artist, and filmmaker Najoom Al Ghanem, which employs archival footage and sensory narrative to explore the connections between the UAE, the Arabian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean through maritime heritage and pearl diving traditions. Trade networks. These traditions are showcased at the exhibition through precious pearls and a jewelry set inspired by traditional ornaments known as “Al-Murta’asha,” which are linked to the country’s pearl diving heritage. Presented by Al Fardan Fine Jewellers, the set reflects the exceptional craftsmanship and rich cultural traditions associated with the pearl trade. .
The first section, “The Origins of Trade Routes Across the Indian Ocean ,” sheds light on the origins of these routes in ancient times, tracing the movement of plants, precious stones, and pearls, and the exchange between the Mediterranean, the Arabian Gulf, and India. The second section, ” Crossing the Indian Ocean ,” includes ancient maps, accounts of voyages to unknown lands, and tales of explorers, as well as exploring the arrival of new powers in the Indian Ocean. Visitors will also have the opportunity to view a manuscript by Ibn Majid, the 15th-century Arab navigator from Ras Al Khaimah, whose writings contributed significantly to documenting maritime knowledge and navigation methods in the Indian Ocean. This manuscript is on loan from the National Library of France.
The third section, Ships and Cargoes , showcases six large-scale models of ships from different historical periods, from the Middle Ages to the early modern era, inspired by historical shipwrecks. These exhibits are accompanied by interactive elements and videos that tell stories of ocean navigation and the knowledge associated with sailing. .
The fourth section, Spices and Precious Commodities in the Indian Ocean , focuses on the export of precious materials (such as gold, jewelry, and perfumes), manufactured goods, and the processing and repurposing of materials imported from outside the region. This section also offers an aromatic experience developed in partnership with Givaudan, the global luxury fragrance company. This experience vividly portrays the fruits of transatlantic trade through six raw aromatic materials and three fragrance compositions inspired by historical recipes from Ottoman Arabia, China, and India. These include frankincense, an aromatic resin for which the Arabian Peninsula has been renowned since ancient times. .
The fifth section, “Peoples of the Indian Ocean: Worlds in Dialogue ,” explores the role of local communities in trade networks and their influence on daily practices, customs, and lifestyles. The sixth section, “An Ocean of Beliefs and Wisdom ,” examines the spread and transmission of religions and artistic traditions along these routes, as well as the transmission of sounds and music.
The exhibition concludes with an immersive installation by musician and composer Sam Nester that combines sound and video, reimagining the concept of listening across the ecological networks of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Gulf.
Throughout the exhibition, six multimedia experiences allow visitors to embark on a multi-level sensory journey, in which sound, image, and fragrance are integrated.
Dr. Claire Deléry, curator of the Chinese porcelain collection at the Guimet National Museum of Asian Art in Paris and curator of the exhibition, said: “This exhibition highlights the pioneering role of Arab sailors in using the high-seas navigation routes between the Arabian Peninsula and India. Navigating these routes relied on a precise understanding of the monsoon wind cycles that guide navigation in the Indian Ocean, as well as the skills of star navigation to determine ship routes and calculate latitude. For centuries, sailors from the Arabian Gulf were at the forefront of trade across the Indian Ocean, including some of the most famous innovators in the science of astronomical navigation, such as Ibn Majid, who was born in Ras Al Khaimah in the fifteenth century.”
The exhibition features exceptional works on loan from 24 international institutions across seven countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Southeast Asia, and Europe, with a strong presence from institutions throughout the Arabian Gulf. Highlights include a dagger and its scabbard (India, c. 1615–1620), on loan from the Al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait; a Mamluk-era incense burner (Egypt, 1294–1340), on loan from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar; a Palampur, a large printed cotton tapestry (India, c. 1700–1725), and a Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara statue (South Vietnam, Tan Long, second half of the 7th century to early 8th century CE), both on loan from the Guimet Museum in France; and a globe known as the De Boer (Germany, c. 1535), on loan from the National Library of France. .
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is participating in this exhibition with the largest number of artworks from its private collection compared to its previous participations since the museum opened, most notably “Flat Map of the Globe” by Visconti Maggiolo (Italy, Genoa, c. 1531); “Map of the World,” a Namban-style wall hanging (Japan, c. 1690); “Jeweled Carved Ivory Box” (Kote, Ceylon, c. 1543); and “Dutch Tribute and Lake of the West,” a lacquered curtain (China, 1644–1912).
The “Spices and Wonders” exhibition is supported by Al Fardan Fine Jewellers, whose participation highlights the rich history of pearl diving and the associated craftsmanship. Al Fardan has also loaned pieces from its collection to the exhibition. The exhibition is further supported by Winton Capital Management.
Alongside the exhibition, Louvre Abu Dhabi is offering a comprehensive cultural and educational program for families, teenagers, and children, designed to enhance visitor engagement with the artworks on display. Highlights of the program include a dedicated children’s trail designed to allow younger visitors to explore the exhibition through engaging questions and information; a panel discussion with the exhibition’s curators and another with two contemporary artists participating in the exhibition on October 13; a performance by the UAE National Orchestra on November 15; and film screenings. The museum’s ongoing programs, such as Family Weekends, Drawing in the Museum, and Drawing and Talking, will also feature dedicated exhibition sessions and guided tours. The exhibition catalogue is available in three languages for purchase from the museum shop.
The second edition of this traveling exhibition is scheduled to take place at the Guimet Museum in France from May 12 to September 6, 2027
