Louvre Abu Dhabi: Mamluks, Legacy of an Empire

For the first time in Europe, the Musée du Louvre presents a major exhibition on the Mamluk Sultanate (1250-1517). Military slaves of Turkish and Caucasian origin, the Mamlouks built their legend on their warrior power. Their artistic culture left a lasting mark on the history of architecture and the arts.

Through 3 large-scale installations and 2 multimedias, Drôle de Trame immerses visitors in the fascinating and rich history of this culture.

Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are greeted by an immense shadow theater projected onto a 15m-long by 3m-high cyclo. This poetic device brings to life Mamluk illuminations and puppets to tell the story of these slaves who became warriors and conquerors.

In the sequence dedicated to architecture, an immersive and monumental projection on 6 sides (6m high x 20m in circumference) invites visitors to contemplate the magnificence of the Qalawun mausoleum in Cairo as if they were there. The film is composed of slow movements in photos that recreate the sumptuous monument as closely as possible.

Then, in the final sequence, a motion design film tells visitors the fascinating story of a iconic object: the Baptistery of Saint Louis. Distorted, animated details and parallaxes help visitors to understand the work and demonstrate the artist's virtuosity.

Two multimedia devices complete the exhibition:

A Connected Empire allows visitors to view the journeys of objects, people, and trade during that period on a large screen. Using three interactive screens, these different routes are displayed and superimposed on the map on the large screen.

The coat of arms game invites visitors to test their agility by quickly manipulating Mamluk emblems.