The Louvre’s New 'Gallery of the Five Continents' Opens to the Public

The Louvre’s new exhibition hall, the 'Gallery of the Five Continents,' opened to the public on the 3rd local time.

The 'Gallery of the Five Continents' is located in the Denon Wing of the Louvre. It features nearly 130 pieces, including statues, jewelry, masks, sculptures, and more. Most of the exhibits are displayed in individual cases, providing visitors with enough viewpoints to appreciate the works from different angles.

In a prominent position at the entrance to the 'Gallery of the Five Continents' stands a famous artifact from the Pacific’s Easter Island—a Moai stone statue. According to the Louvre, the Moai statues may represent deified ancestors of Easter Island inhabitants. Island residents erected these statues on sacred sites to seek divine protection.

The aim of the 'Gallery of the Five Continents' is to bring together works of art from all continents, allowing art to transcend borders and eras, and at the same time showcasing the diversity of artistic expressions from around the world.

The director of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, said she hopes that by establishing the 'Gallery of the Five Continents', the public can gain a more direct understanding of artistic masterpieces from across the continents, allowing these works to break free from their previous 'isolation' within the Louvre.

The predecessor to the 'Gallery of the Five Continents' was the Louvre’s former State Assembly Hall. In 1996, then-French President Jacques Chirac decided to transfer selected masterpieces from the National Museum of African and Oceanic Art and the Musée de l’Homme to the Louvre for display; the State Assembly Hall was chosen as the exhibition space for these works.

To celebrate the opening of the 'Gallery of the Five Continents', the Louvre will soon host a range of related cultural events, including performances, lectures, and roundtable discussions.

The 'Gallery of the Five Continents' does not charge a separate admission fee; visitors can view it for free with a standard Louvre ticket.