An exclusive Ancient Egyptian exhibition is headed for Australian shores
The National Gallery of Victoria will showcase the wonders of the ancient Egypt and the almighty pharaoh in an exclusive exhibition set to open in 2024.
Over 500 works displaying the regal and mysterious world of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs are set to come to Australian-shores as part of an exclusive exhibition.
Seven years in the making, the British Museum is sharing a carefully curated selection of their artefacts with the National Gallery of Victoria, set to be on display from June 14 to October 6 next year.
With artefacts ranging from a monolithic stone fist weighing close to 1.5 tonnes to intricately crafted jewellery, the Pharaoh exhibition seeks to discover who the most “iconic” figures in ancient Egyptian culture actually were.
British Museum international touring exhibitions curator Dr Marie Vandenbeusch is the venerated mind behind the exhibition and an expert in the field of ancient Egyptian artefacts.
Dr Vandenbeusch told The Australian despite having spent the past 20 years studying ancient Egypt, there was something truly “magical” about working at the British Museum and designing the comprehensive exhibition.
“There is a lot of detective work involved … quite often you know very little about the objects when you start studying them,” she said.
“It’s quite a magical place.”
With 3000 years separating modern society from the rule of the pharaohs, Dr Vandenbeusch said she the exhibition seeks to delve beyond how the figureheads of ancient world wanted to be perceived.
“You’re going to really discover who was the king: it’s not always male, not always Egyptian,” she said.
“Exploring the different function of the king as a priest, as a general, as head of the administration and as the head of the family.
“What I’m really trying to do through this exhibition is try to go beyond what the king wanted us to show the rest of the world and how they wanted themselves to be depicted.”
One of the more remarkable artefacts Dr Vandenbeusch had come across was a small statue Amun-Ra moulded from silver.
Discovered in the ruins of the Karnak Temple complex, she said the piece originally would have been considered as “divine” and it would have been worshipped by a culture now so far removed from our own.
“What I found fascinating is where it was discovered … because it was in these sacred grounds,” she said.
“It’s still a bit magical, the idea, that this statue is viewed in that divine perception that ancient Egyptians had of the statue.”
With the dream of this exhibition now a reality, Dr Vandenbeusch said it had been an “amazing adventure” putting all the pieces together and was enamoured to share it exclusively in Australia.
NGV director Tony Ellwood said the unprecedented exhibition would provide visitors with a “perennially fascinating” look at sculptures, architecture and jewellery typically only available at the British Museum.
“The NGV’s exhibition will place precedence on the exceptional craftsmanship of the ancient Egyptians, highlighting their refined artistic sensibility and technical skill,” Mr Ellwood said.