FAIRFIELD — A new exhibition at the Fairfield University Art Museum will showcase the enduring popularity of the art of ancient Egypt as well as its impact on perceptions of Egyptian culture.

Hieroglyphs to Hype: The Modern Afterlife of Ancient Egypt will be on view from Friday, Sept. 18th through Dec. 12th. An opening reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17th with exhibition curator Megan Paqua in conversation with Curator of Education Michelle DiMarzo.

The exhibition features a selection of paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, and decorative art. The artifacts are presented alongside an examination of “Egyptomania,” the term created to describe the 19th century fascination with ancient Egypt that took place in Europe. The exhibition notes how the “enthusiasm for Egyptian symbols and motifs contributed to the erasure of the ancient Egyptian people themselves, as their beliefs and customs became first exoticized, and later commodified, to suit popular taste in Europe and beyond.”

Paqua said she got the idea for the exhibition after noticing a common trend in her other role as adjunct professor of art history and visual culture, teaching courses on ancient Egyptian art and archaeology.

“Students frequently come into the course assuming that they ‘know’ ancient Egypt because they’ve been exposed to it so much through popular culture, everything from The Mummy movies to the Ancient Aliens TV show,” she said. “They’re often surprised to discover how much of that cultural context has been filtered through two centuries of ‘Egyptomania.’”

Numerous programs have been scheduled to complement the exhibition, including gallery talks and lectures. For more information, click here.

Hieroglyphs to Hype: The Modern Afterlife of Ancient Egypt – Opening Reception

Thursday, September 17
5:30 pm
Fairfield University Art Museum
200 Barlow Avenue
Fairfield

Expanded coverage of Fairfield County cultural events is made possible with support from the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts