Enter ancient Egypt in all its glory and explore an array of tablets, amulets, funery chests and steles, linens, statues, Canopic jars and, of course, mummy cases of wood and stone.
Entering the exhibition, one is immediately drawn to the granite statue of Sekhment, the lioness headed feminine form with cobra-decorated disc headdress that is as tall as a human.
Further inside, the lighting plays a wonderful job of highlighting a variety of amulets, staffs, sceptres, an exquisite blue funerary bead net and statues in bronze (particularly the Osiris sculpture) and various types of stone from quartzite, amazonite, calcite, baked clay, jasper, faience, diorite, serpentine, greywacke, sandstone and granite. Who knew so many mediums were on offer to the sculptor?
The exhibition is a careful balance of behind the glass cabinet and at arms length in the open exhibits. The upright stone Sarcophagus of Tanethep made for a woman weighs more than a tonne and the attention to detail of the inscriptions on the lid are mind-blowing as are the images of Tanethep inside each section. The small detail of text and images on the various papyrus panels from the Book of the Dead show true mastery at work with ink and brush and make one ache to have at least one of these panels at home on the wall.
Of course what would an Egyptian exhibition be without at least one mummy case? The Cartonage of Djed-Khonsou-iou-ef-ankh doesn’t disappoint and has a breathtaking inner upright case and outer case. The mummy on show however, is not human but a cat which looks almost like a contemporary, alternative stuffed toy that you can buy from one Perth’s funky shops. Perhaps, even more bizarre, is the loaf of bread that had been placed in one of the tombs around the 19th – 20th Dynasties, unbelievable!
Allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy this once in a lifetime exhibition and definitely make time to watch the ten minute video that outlines the exhibition and the principle themes of Egyptian beliefs. The video shows to the left upon entering. No doubt the gift shop will beckon you and there is something for every budgets so you can take home your little bit of the Egyptian afterlife.
Showing now at the Art Gallery of Western Australia until Sunday 28 October 2007. Check the website for children’s and family activities in the cool Tomb Room and the various admission prices on www.artgallery.wa.gov.au
