The Dark Side of Cultural Exchange: When "Beauty" Becomes a Facade The recent controversy surrounding the Louvre Abu Dhabi's acquisition of a Tutankhamun stele has left many in the art world reeling, but it shouldn't have come as a surprise.
For years, museums and collectors have been complicit in the looting and laundering of cultural artifacts, often under the guise of promoting cross cultural understanding and education.
The story begins with the inauguration of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the museum as an antidote to global conflict and imperialism.