Exhibit blends Egyptian, Greek artistic traditions

Walking in, senior Afriza Mohd feels a bit intimidated by the face of Alexander the Great, whose statue looms overhead. She gasps at the Egyptian mummy lying in the center of a brightly-lit room. But she smiles at the showcase of beaded jewelry, consisting of coiled-snake rings, pendant earrings and beaded necklaces.\n"It's surprising how similar the ancient jewelry is to ours today. I would wear it," she said, admiring the purple-beaded necklace.\nMohd is one of the many IU students who took a moment out of her day to visit the new exhibition at the IU Art Museum, "Egypt After Alexander: Art Under the Greeks and Romans." \n"This show explores the encounter between two completely different artistic traditions: the ancient Egyptian pharaonic art, with a legacy of 3,500 years of tradition and the Greek Hellenistic culture introduced by the Ptolemies," said Adriana Calinescu, co-curator of Ancient Art at the museum.\nMany of the objects selected from the IU Art Museum's collections are being showcased for the first time. Each one reflects some part of Egyptian history, culture, ethnicity or religion. \nThe exhibition focuses on four different themes relevant to the ancient culture. From the large sculptures of kings and queens to the small fragments of papyrus writings, visitors can appreciate the work that went into setting up the exhibition.\n"IU has an extraordinary collection of antiquities, particularly rich in small-scale objects. I get excited to see coins and gemstones," said Julie Van Voorhis, assistant professor of Ancient Greek and Roman Art.\nVan Voorhis, along with fellow IU professors, will take part in one of the events hosted by the show. As a lecturer for the "Noon Talk," she will be giving an informal gallery tour to the public. She encourages those outside and on campus to take a peek, and some of her students are doing a project related to the collection. \nHaving previously taken a Classical Greek studies class, senior Adam Pegg was drawn to the showcases. \n"I can relate to what they (panel descriptions) say," Pegg said. "The names and periods of this artwork ring a bell."\nMany will find familiarity in the hieroglyphics that are sprawled on papyrus notes, while others will recognize the face of Marcus Aurelius -- one of the greatest emperors in Roman history. Yet others will be transformed by the beauty of a woman's portrait, painted on a panel of wood. \n"This exhibition, by recognizing the plural face of art in ancient Egypt's late period, attempts to change our perceptions of Egyptian art as uniform and monotonous," Calinescu said. "It presents an art with an edge, an art endowed with a quirky aesthetic quality, in whose spirit, curiously at it may seem, we can share."\nObservers take note of the exaggeration of facial features, a distinctive trait of Hellenistic artistic culture. The intricate details highlight the cultural respect and pride for dynasty's leaders, whether they are gods, goddesses or political figures.\n"The exhibition tells a story of art; and the subjects of this story are old and new gods, kings and queens and heroes who, like the modern heroes (Spiderman, Batman), can be recognized by their specific attributes,"Calinescu said.\nVan Voorhis said the intersection of art and history is essential to the exhibit.\n"No artwork was created for the sole purpose of being art. It carries its political and domestic functions as well," she said.\nVan Voorhis said because everyday objects carry messages that reflect the personality of culture, we come to appreciate origins through art.\n"History is what brings the work of art to life," she said.\n-- Contact staff writer Lyssa Rebholz at lrebholz@indiana.edu.