In high school, I spent an entire term of Year 7 studying Ancient Egypt. Around the same time, I discovered a television series that would become one of my all-time favourites, Stargate SG-1. Unsurprisingly, the series was heavily inspired by the history and culture of Egypt. Ever since, I have always had a fond fascination with Egyptian history.
Living in Australia, as far away from Egypt as possible, access to actual Egyptian artefacts is few and far between. Thankfully, the National Gallery of Victoria, partnered with the British Museum, have opened a brand-new exhibition to showcase over 500 ancient artefacts. Simply titled NGV: Pharaoh, the ground floor of the NGV has been taken over with a range of monumental sculptures, jewellery, temple statues, coffins, architecture and more.
Upon entering the exhibition space, the first area is covered in a soft and velvety carpet, giving off a very royal vibe. Surrounding the room are various heads of statues and busts, including a large giant head in the centre of the space, elevated on a platform to tower over you as you walk in.
Each object is encased in glass and is positioned in a way that allows you to walk around it, taking in every fine detail. I was blown away by how smooth and intricate some of the sculpturing was. I could easily spend forever in this first space, taking it all in and reading all the accompanied descriptive plaques, but I knew this was only the beginning and there was so much more to take in.
As I continued through the exhibition, I was wowed again and again. From giant blocks of stone carvings and statues to the tiny statuettes and figures, there’s something for everyone to be impressed by. Even walking between the spaces, the NGV have turned some of their hallways into art. The hallways are dimly lit and at the end is a tall, narrow screen illuminated in a golden hue. They are built to resemble the openings of an Ancient Egyptian structure and the natural sunlight shining through, giving the illusion that the exhibition is inside a pyramid, tomb, or other structure. It was so simple yet effective. I loved the idea of being transported to Ancient Egypt.
I was already thoroughly impressed, but I had only just seen the first half. The second half of the exhibition is just as impressive. Here, some of the largest objects can be found and some of the smallest. A whole room dedicated to jewellery of the time with some of the most exquisite, detailed and intricate craftsmanship I have ever seen. Think a large mural with writing, hieroglyphics, and depictions of the gods, but as small as a 50c piece. This section of NGV: Pharaoh is worth the price of admission alone.
I think what impressed me the most was a grand hall dedicated to the goddess, Sekhmet. Ten giant statues line either side of the space, each with a dedicated plaque speaking to its origins and some history and lore on the goddess herself. The layout made me feel like I had stepped into a temple. Cantered at the rear of the room is a tiny gold statue that had packed crowds lining up to catch an up-close glimpse of.
One thing was clear after meandering though the two epic spaces curated by the NGV is that everything was setup and designed with a specific purpose. The lighting and accompanied visuals in each space only enhanced the viewing experience. Even the sequencing of the artefacts from room to room tell a story. There are seven sections at the exhibition that cover the role and duties of the pharaohs. From high priestess to forms of government and the protective armies of the royal family, there is so much to learn and explore.
NGV: Pharaoh is the largest ever exhibition of Ancient Egyptian artefacts to make its way to Australia and I could have easily spent an entire day wandering through it. It does get busy and lining up to catch everything can be a bit exhausting at times, but it is well worth the wait. On my visit, I spent a solid two hours walking through it from 11am. If you can manage a visit on a weekday, it may take you less time and the crowds may be smaller. But whatever you do, don’t sleep on this one!
Partnered with the British Museum, NGV: Pharaoh is exclusive to Melbourne until the 6th of October, from 10am to 5pm daily with additional hours on Friday nights from 6pm to 10pm. For those that love audiobooks, there is an audio descriptive service that you can purchase, play on your own smartphone and use your own headphones. There is also a fully stocked gift shop at the end of the exhibition with a wide range of memorabilia to purchase and take home, including an incredibly detailed exhibition book that I did not hesitate to obtain.
For information and ticketing, please visit:
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/pharaoh