Antique Doors Art/or Preservation Art Doors, Essay Example

Background and Overview: The Doors of Al Ain

Throughout the world, the rapid changes of modern progress are leaving important parts of our history behind. In Al Ain City, some of the most vibrant and beautiful examples of traditional life and culture can be seen in the wonderful diversity of the older homes and villas. For many of these dwellings, the front door is more than just an entryway; it is a distinctive and singular work of art. These unique and colorful doors offer a view into the lives of the people who dwell behind them, and project a warm, welcoming message to friends and strangers alike. A quick glance at these doors reminds of the beauty in our midst that is all too easy to forget as it is swept aside to be replaced by steel and glass.

Because these doors are so beautiful and so uniue, we have a responsibility to prtotect and preserve them. As the old homes and villas are broken down and the remnants carted away to make room for newer homes and buildings, it is vital that we do not allow photographs to be the only evidence that remain of these beautiful doors.  What makes these doors so valuable from a cultural and historical perspective is that each one is unique. They serve as personal, individualized statements to the world that the people within are welcoming and hospitable to friends and strangers alike. These doors quite literally provide an opening into the past, into the rich culture of the people who made them. It is imperative that we do all we can to preserve these doors and the heritage they represent.

Statement of Purpose

Based on the understanding that these doors should be collected and preserved for their cultural, historical, and artistic value, I propose a specific project that is intended to meet all three of these objectives. The primary goal of this project will be to collect, preserve and display as many of these doors as possible, with a target goal of collecting 100 doors. These doors will be curated and prepared for display at the Abu Dhabi Art Exhibition in 2015, and will subsequently be placed into long-term storage where they will safely preserved for future presentations in art exhibitions, museums, and other appropriate venues.

Project Outline

The first step in this project is to identify those doors that will be acquired and preserved. This will require a detailed approach to targeting the buildings that are most likely to be demolished d for construction projects and other reasons to make sure that the most valuable doors are not destroyed before they can be identified.  In many cases it will be necessary to purchase doors from their owners (when such owners are willing to part with them) and cover the costs of replacement for new doors.

As the doors are indentified and acquired, they will be carefully and safely removed for transport to a central storage location. Throughout this process the persons working to collect and transport the doors will gather relevant historical and background information about each of the doors. Such information will include the name of the owner, the histories of the family and the building, explanations and descriptions of the symbols and artwork on the doors, and other relevant and appropriate information.

Once all the doors are collected they will be cataloged and curated, with complete and through descriptions about the age, background, and origin of each door. This approach to curating the collection of doors will be helpful for keeping them carefully stored and will also serve as the basis for their display at the Abu Dhabi Art Exhibition and at future public exhibits.

Cost Overview

While the actual historical and cultural value of such a collection is difficult to measure in monetary terms, there will be a number of specific costs associated with acquiring and maintaining this collection of doors. It may be possible to acquire some doors for very little money, while other owners may require some persuasion to part with their doors. As a general guideline, an estimated cost of 150,000 to 200,000 dhs will be needed to cover the expenses of purchasing and replacing the doors. Additional costs of 65,000 to 80,000 dhs are estimated to cover the costs of transportation, curation, and storage of the doors.

Displaying the Doors

While the primary purpose of this project is simply to ensure that these important artifacts are safely preserved for posterity, it is also important that they be seen and remembered by the public. Each door in the collection will be carefully preserved and prepared for display at the Abu Dhabi Art Exhibition, with each door being presented with a sign that provides an overview of the door’s historicity and a discussion of its artistic and cultural relevance. Each door will be beautifully photographed, and a copy of the photograph will be displayed next to the door.  Patrons who wish to preserve their memory of these doors will have the opportunity to purchase prints of these photographs (estimated price: 5,000 dhs). The proceeds for these sales will go into the project to help defray futures costs of storing and displaying the doors.

The Future of the Doors of Al Ain

This project presents a unique opportunity to preserve an important part of regional culture and history. Just as these doors serve as the entryways into the homes of the people of Al Ain, their safe preservation will serve as an entryway into the past for future generations. It is vital that we save and remember these doors, rather than to allow them to be lost and forgotten. The relatively small outlay of time and money needed to save and preserve these doors is insignificant when compared to their historical, cultural, and artistic value. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that these unique examples of the past and the present remain a part of our future as well.