The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article today highlighting the opening of the Museum of Islamic Art, which is scheduled for next week. According to the article, the museum, which is situated on an artificial island in the Persian Gulf is aiming to establish itself as the “Met of the Middle East”. The I.M. Pei designed museum is slated to house an impressive array of artwork. The idea is to help build on the idea of art tourism and draw art loves to the island museum. One of the most daunting tasks for this new museum will be to catalog and properly display and care for the treasures that may lie within. The museum collection is largely provided as a result of an emir’s buying spree. The museum’s head of research noticed an 1,100 year old piece lumped in a crowded display case. She removed the piece to a more prominent location. The museum staff will be taxed to be completely organized by opening day, it appears. Time will tell. The full article appears in the Wall Street Journal, November 14, 2008, page W1.
