-Oman's first National Museum, scheduled to open soon, has announced a competition to produce a contemporary work of art to be displayed in its "Islam and the Modern Age" hall.
The competition is open to all forms art media: a painting, visual art (such as photography or video) or an installation.
The "Islam and the Modern Age" hall will be located in the museum's "Splendours of Islam" gallery, which will explore Islam's influence on various aspects of life in Oman, and Oman's contribution to various fields of human endeavour, including theology, applied sciences, and the arts.
This gallery, in turn, will be one of many permanent galleries the museum will have when construction is completed near the end of 2011.
"There will be 17 permanent display galleries in the museum which will adopt an open plan arrangement making tour of the museum user-friendly," said Jamal al Moosawi, director of the National Museum.
"The National Museum is going to be a cultural, scientific and tourist hub, a window of Oman into the world," Jamal said.
"It looks at studying, exploring and sharing the multi-dimensional facets of Oman’s history, from the arrival of human beings in this part of the world until the present. It’s also encyclopaedic, in that it offers a view into the rich society of Oman. We aim to celebrate diversity and unity at the same time."
The museum has also announced a second competition: to submit a proposal for a freestanding installation that will hang from the ceiling over the reception. The installation should be an interpretation of Adam Rock (pictured right), a rock excavated in Adam, which gives the earliest depiction of a male and female inhabitant in the sultanate.
"My team members and I have travelled the world to seek new museum experiences. We’re trying to bring the best museography practices into the project. It will change our perception and understanding of museums in Oman," Jamal said.
source : http://abna.ir
