Walid Raad - Preface to the Third Edition

On the occasion of the September 2012 inauguration of its new wing devoted to the Department of Islamic Arts, the Louvre Museum has invited visual artist Walid Raad, and given him carte blanche for a project over three consecutive years.

Raad’s exhibition, Preface to the First Edition, to open this forthcoming January, and the publication appearing in conjunction with it, Preface to the Third Edition, which was produced with the artist, stand as the first chapter of this collaboration.
In the Louvre, Walid Raad approaches the field of “Islamic Arts” for the first time, a concept that dates back to the 19th century, when the public collections of Islamic art were formed. In his exhibition, editorial project and in a series of public events, he took under consideration the various aspects at play in the reopening of this department: the history of the collections and their scientific documentation, the architectural and museographic designs, and the institutional aspects of the project.

Raad designed the book Preface to the Third Edition to accompany this event, as an artistic component of his project, which stands for itself. It concentrates on the artworks of the Islamic Arts Department recently photographed by the photographer Hughes Dubois. Drawing from this body of images, Walid Raad creates his own visions, akin to a personal inventory of objects from the collection.
This artist’s edition is presented in the form of 28 plates (20 x 27 cm) assembled in a folding portfolio designed by the artist.