Contemporary Art and the Display of Ancient Egypt

REVIEW BY HILARY FORREST This thoroughly researched book contains a wealth of material, and covers the frequently discussed question of how Egyptological displays should be planned and designed, both culturally and ethically. The main focus is on the place of modern art in relation to ancient materials, and how the display of both contemporary art and archaeology affects our interpretation of the past. As Stevenson points out, few of the Western modernist artists inspired by ancient Egypt actually set foot in the country: their ‘encounter with Egypt’ came from museum collections and artefacts. The decision to display such works in Egyptology galleries was one of aesthetics (to ‘brig