When my grandfather was in Egypt during the first world war, he stole some beads from one of the tombs. They are delicate, turquoise-coloured and made out of some form of ceramic. I still have them, threaded as a necklace, which I’m too afraid to wear.
At Pharaoh, the blockbuster exhibition of Egyptian artefacts on at the National Gallery of Victoria, I learned more about them.
The beads are more than 3,000 years old and are made from faience, a paste made from crushing quartz and other stones. Jewellery was placed on mummies to protect the spirit of the dead in their journey to the afterlife.
Even though programs are now being aired on national TV with names like Stuff the British Stole, I don’t want to give them back. I need all the protection I can get! I don’t want any disgruntled gods or goddesses causing havoc with my spirit.
NGV curator Miranda Wallace is unapologetic about the exhibition of 500 artefacts from the British Museum. She doesn’t think of them as “loot”.
The British Museum is said to have 100,000 artefacts with just 4 per cent on display, most excavated under a deal made in the 1930s between the Egyptian and British governments, in which they share the find.
“No-one has asked for the material back,” Wallace said. “There are no concerns on that front.”
Pharaoh doesn’t attempt to rewrite the history of ancient Egypt but follows a tradition set by last year’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition by focussing on display.
Wallace also worked on the Pierre Bonnard exhibition which recreated the wallpaper of the period as a setting for his paintings.
The gods seem appeased by this decision to design them a suitable setting, particularly the impressive lion-headed Goddess Sekhmet, who appears in multiple form, both standing and seated, ten on guard as you walk through.
“Traditionally with an Egyptian blockbuster, it’s very dark with lots of royal blue,” Wallace told Australian Arts Review. “People peer into boxes.”
The curating team have gone for the courtyard of a temple for their goddess setting. “They’ve (the goddesses) been given the space and light to power up,” said Wallace.
The goddess is known as “the Powerful One” and is connected with destruction, war and pestilence in Egyptian mythology.
More than 700 goddesses were made by the pharaoh Amenhotep 111 in 1350 BC, two for each day of the year. Those standing are assertive while those seated are at peace. According to legend, the sun god Ra sent them beer to quieten them down.
Pharaoh
NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Exhibition continues to 6 October 2024
Entry fees apply
For more information, visit: ngv.melbourne for details. View the trailer here!
Images: Installation view of the 2024 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® Pharaoh, a collaboration between the British Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria – photo by Sean Fennessy | Miranda Wallace, Curator National Gallery of Victoria – photo by Rhonda Dredge | Installation view of the 2024 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® Pharaoh, a collaboration between the British Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria – photo by Tom Ross
Words: Rhonda Dredge