Society for the Promotion of the Egyptian Museum Berlin

•   Robert Murray: Great Sphinx and the Chephren-Pyramid (from the East)
•   Abdullah Frères: View from afar of the Pyramids from the alley of the Pyramids, (from North-East)

To travel to Egypt in the 19th century meant, then as today, to visit the Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza. These archaic monuments pointing to ancient 'biblical' times were considered to be the greatest enigma created by human means. Those who waded through he sand to the sphinx or who climbed the Cheops pyramid wanted a photo as prove and remembrance of the event. This service was provided from the 1860's, by photographers who opened ateliers at the major tourist centres.

In this exhibition ca. 60 photos taken between 1852 and 1900 large formate vintage photos and stereo photographs as well as calling cards and picture postcards can be sen .

According to the theme of this year's 'Month of Photography ' many of the photographs have not been exhibited before. The photographers, on the other hand, are well known to the connoisseurs: R. Murray, J. Robertson & F. Beato, F. M. Good, W. Hammerschmidt, A. Beato, F. Bonfils, P. Sébah, L. Fiorillo, Gebr. Zangaki, G. Lékégian, Abdullah Frères, H. Arnoux.

Links

• Europäischer Monat der Fotografie Berlin

•   Poster of the exhibition "5000 Jahre"

The great interest in African art is in part due to its influence on modern art : African art in the context of contemporary art is a familiar experience.

The Collection Horstmann shown here offers an opportunity for a dialogue with a different art. The masterpieces collected over decades by the Horstmanns according to artistic criteria meet ancient Egyptian art.
The exhibition in the Kulturforum does not show a historical linear connections or ways of cultural transfer but by the intimate placement of the African and ancient Egyptians works of art, the formal and stylistic analogies become visible.

Two goals are pursued: on the one hand to expose the roots in - and the radiation to - Africa, and by displaying the artistic perfection of ancient Egyptian works of art to provide an invitation to discover the comparable perfection of the African artist.

So two components are fused to a coherent harmony : the richness of the Collection Horstmann and the works of the Egyptian Museum Berlin (SMB).

Links

• Kunstforum Berliner Volksbank

•   Papyrus of Artemidor
•   Papyrus of Artemidor
•   Papyrus of Artemidor

Derzeit wird in der Dauerausstellung der Artemidor-Papyrus gezeigt, eine Leihgabe der Fondazione per l´Arte della Compagnia di San Paolo.

Er enthält einen Text des griechischen Geographen Artemidor (2.-1. Jh. v. Chr.), dessen Werk bisher nur aus Zitaten bekannt war. Zur Illustration befindet sich auf dem Papyrus die älteste bekannte antike Landkarte. Die Rückseite zeigt eine Vielzahl professioneler Tierzeichnungen und Skizzen von Köpfen, Händen und Füßen.

Dieses einzigartige Werk wird zusammen mit vergleichbaren, teilweise noch nie öffentlich ausgestellten Zeugnissen aus den Beständen des Ägyptischen Museums präsentiert.