A few things have recently caught my eye from the world of Egyptology. I’ve never fully gotten into Egyptology, because I find it is such an expansive, dense subject it is difficult to find an entry point. I have visited the pyramids and was completely blown away by them. I do have a strong interest in ancient civilisations, particularly from the near east. My entry point into Egyptology, is what relates to my art practice and so I have cherry picked these subjects below as I feel they relate to my practice and I would look at ways of using them in the future.
above: The Utopian city of Amarna built by Pharaoh Akhetaten
Amarna was a failed civilisation and a utopian dream, built by the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhetaten – who was somewhat a rebel Pharaoh. I’m very interested in why people migrate, why we move around. Perhaps we believe there is a Utopia – or something or somewhere that in our minds serves us as a kind of Utopian place or space? Perhaps Amarna was the first attempt at a Utopian dream and failed?
above: The Temple of Dendera, Nile, Egypt
The Temple of Dendera represents order and stability while surrounding it is a giant perimeter wall that keeps out the forces of chaos. I like the idea of walls being used as a positive force, to build a place where there is order, calm and tranquillity as opposed to them being used for separating people and barring entry.
A couple of years ago I saw the massive Anslem Kiefer show at the RA in London. The exhibition was amazing and some of the paintings that he has produced were in fact based on near east themes such as the pyramids in Egypt and the Tower of Babel.