Muscat: The National Museum inaugurated the exhibition “Fragrance Journeys” at Bayt Greiza, in cooperation with France’s Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon and the French Embassy in Oman.
The inauguration ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Fatma Mohammed al Ajmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative, Financial and Planning Affairs.
Jamal Hassan al Moosawi, Secretary General of the National Museum told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the “Fragrant Journeys” is the first exhibition to be conducted in Bayt Greiza and the first joint cultural exhibition between Oman and France after many years.
He added: “Hosting the exhibition comes within the framework of cultural diplomacy pursued by the museum with the aim of strengthening the bonds of friendship and introducing the visitor to the fragrance culture that originated from Oman’s land of frankincense. The exhibition showcases selected artefacts with historical, aesthetic and moral connotation to ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations, as well as Medieval Italy, Medieval France, passing through time to the Enlightenments era, modern arts and contemporary artistic expressions in France.
On her turn, Sylvie Raymond, Director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon said in a statement that the Museum of Fine Arts will display a selection of pieces from valuable collections in the National Museum. Those selected pieces tell a fragrant history in the path of perfumery.
Luciano Rispoli, Acting Ambassador of the French Republic to the Sultanate of Oman, said that the depth of relations between Oman and France dates back to the 17th century, when French merchant ships anchored in the ports of Tyre and Muscat at the crossroads of the maritime trade routes leading to the Indian Ocean.
Rispoli added that the joint exhibition “Fragrant Journeys” comes as a prelude to a series of long-term cooperation between the two sides. He pointed out that this cooperation will extend in two phases. During the first phase, 23 selected pieces of art will be loaned from the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts to be displayed in Bayt Greiza, during the period from October 17, 2022 to May 7, 2023.
The exhibition presents 23 artefacts from the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon, and highlights the frankincense and incense routes during the most prominent eras dating back to the Pharaonic era all the way to the avant-garde art. Those include a masterpiece of glazed pottery by the international artist Pablo Picasso, which is the first time a work by this international artist is displayed in Oman.
Source: Oman Observer