Take A Virtual Tour of These Art Museums & Exhibitions
With government-imposed regulations put in place to limit the effects of COVID-19 and many of the world’s population self-quarantining, we are currently living in an era characterized by isolation. In a time like this, the arts sweep in to rescue us from the darkest corners of our minds. We have been doing our best to supply you with your daily dose of Middle Eastern art and to keep you entertained and inspired throughout this stressful time, but we believe that there is still more room for you to get inspired throughout your day. Recently, we have been reminiscing about our first-hand interactions with the arts and our first visits to art galleries. We have been blessed throughout our lives to have had the opportunity to travel to different countries and experience the beauty of different art galleries and museums. Thinking about these experiences led us to hit the internet and try to recreate some of our favourite memories in some of our favourite galleries and museums. Since it is not possible for any of us to go out and experience being in front of breathtaking pieces of art, we have compiled some of our favourite virtual online exhibitions for you to explore. All you will need is an internet connection to enjoy some of the world’s most celebrated pieces of art from the comfort of your couch. We are indebted to Google Arts and Culture, which has teamed up with over 2500 museums and galleries to provide users with a one of a kind, online experience that has given us so much to explore.
Image via Art Dubai
Since we are dedicated to supporting the growth of creative spaces in the Middle East, we thought we would start with Middle Eastern exhibitions. Art Dubai’s online catalogue features 500 works of represented artists in participating galleries. This online experience is powered by Google Arts and Culture
Image via the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art
The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Istanbul
The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art is Turkey’s first private museum to ever organize modern and contemporary exhibitions. Their online collection gives visitors a small but significant taste of what the museum has to offer. This online experience is powered by Google Arts and Culture
Image via Barjeel Art Foundation
Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah
Barjeel Art Foundation is an independent, United Arab Emirates-based initiative established to manage, preserve and exhibit the personal art collection of Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi. The foundation’s goal is to encourage critical dialogue about art practices within the Middle East. This online experience is powered by Google Arts and Culture
Image via Musée du Louvre
The Louvre is possibly the most iconic art museum in the world. The museum gives online access to its Egyptian antiquities collection along with the legendary works of Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo. (Hint: If you press on the artifacts, you can get information about their history).
Image via the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Met’s online collection features the work of legends such as Vincent Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock. The museum houses a whopping 2 million pieces of fine art. The Met has also partnered up with Google Arts and Culture to offer a supplementary collection to the one on its own online platform.
Image via the British Museum
The British Museum houses over 8 million pieces in its collection and now some of it is available for online viewing. Check out the ancient Egypt collection or some of the many treasures of this goldmine of a museum. This online experience is powered by Google Arts and Culture
Image via Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
Immerse yourself in the works of Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian, amongst many others, through The Guggenheim’s online virtual tour, which features impressionist, modern and contemporary pieces. You will also get the bonus of exploring Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural genius, when you visit the cyber version of The Guggenheim. This online experience is powered by Google Arts and Culture
Image via Van Gogh Museum
The museum houses the largest collection of Van Gogh’s works, boasting over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 750 personal letters. This online experience is powered by Google Arts and Culture
Image via Musée d’Orsay
Marvel at the works of French artists of the 19th and 20th century such as Monet and Cezanne on this online tour. This online experience is powered by Google Arts and Culture