ART & EXHIBITIONS LIST
l—
PHARAONIC FACTS
Unearth your compass and
water-bottle. There are riches beyond your wildest dreams buried somewhere within the arid wastes of the City Art Centre. Follow The List
treasure map and discover the Gold Oi
The Pharaohs. Having navigated the turnstile,
turning a blind eye (depending on the size at your pocket), to the glossy
catalogue at £4.95, the unwary traveller is immediately presented with a dilemma: to hire or not to hire the
handy Walkman-sized recorded guide
to the exhibition, ior only £1. li you are lucky or sensible enought to have escaped the crowds (between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays are the quietest times) then the tape is probably a good investment. in slightly melodramatic mode, it relives bits and pieces oi the history oi the exhibits and makes sense
oi the somewhat eclectic nature of the
exhibition. It also oiiers uselul advice to disabled explorers. The lack oi a iast-iorward button makes it cumbersome in a crowd, however, so it
it’s claustrophobic, go unimpeded into
the tray. The exhibition is on tour iloors. The Lower Ground Floor is the best bit. It
you've only got hall an hourthen it’s best spent here amongst the gold and
jewels irom the tombs. The Ground Floor houses the
; weightierpiecesiromthetombs and
5 gives a potted history otthe excavation oi the city oi Tanis, which has been
i going on torthe best part oi a century
and continuestoday.
The First Floor takes a closer look at
the gory side oi the embalming
business and presents arteiacts irom the Egyptian way at tile, rather than
7 death. This iloor also houses the shap,
where you can buy reproduction
statuettes, maps, stencils, pencils,
T-shirts, models, colouring books... The Second Floor houses the
g audio-visual display, shown every 30 mins on the hour and hail hour. it lasts 18 mins.
Start with the audio-visual show. By
no means enthralling, it nevertheless
puts Tanis on the map, shows
archaeologist Pierre Montet, bearing no resemblance whatever to Harrison Ford, and saves you irom reading every word oi the iniormation panels scattered throughout the other iloors. Armed with new knowledge oi the ancient world, the exhibition is yours tor the taking. Make sure you don't miss out any oi the iollowing.
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FIRST FLOOR: Read the panel entitled Mummillcation, on the tar leit oi the back wall, and learn how to remove someone’s brain without leaving a scar. Then turn to coniront the Canopic Jars (cat no 21) in the iorm oi enigmatic animal gods, which contain the guts oi princes. Beyond these, ilnd the Evisceration Plaque (cat no 23) whose delicate etching belies its gory purpose.
Small, beautiiully-cralted pots oi gold and silver (cat nos 24 & 25) stand either side, and in the cases nearer the window (cat nos 26 & 27).
In the centre oi the room stands the bust oi Panemerlt (cat no 60), head and shoulders reunited iorthis exhibition. It is surprisingly modern in appearance, as are the beautiiul Blue Faience vessels (cat no 68) at the far end oi the room.
GROUND FLOOR: The enormous, bottom-heavy sarcophagus oi Psusennes dominates the ground lloor gallery. It is covered irom head to toe in tiny, intricate carving. Behind it stands a stone with a history oi misuse. Originally a leation Table ior Psusennes' tomb, it became butcher’s block, oil press, stepping stone, and was eventually rescued irom the mud at a canal. Nearerthe window are a low oi the hundreds oi statuettes which accompanied the Pharaoh to his
6 one Rel/CZ. I“ 0" 6‘73 727'er ’1 V J' C IVA/[J-
resting-place. Representative oi workers and overseers, they were intended to keep the Pharaoh, even alter death, in the manner to which he was accustomed. Mass-produced, they signiiy ritual gone mad. The statue ol Ankhrenepulor (cat no 3) which you pass on your way to the stair, restores faith in the artistry oi the Egyptian craftsman.
LOWER GROUND FLOOR: This cave-like gallery otters up a dragon's hoard oi riches. Feast your eyes on gold. At the tar end oi the dimly lit room stands the gold death mask ltseli. Small and delicate, its periection makes it strangely vulnerable. The rest oi the gallery is titled, it seems to overflowing, with periectly-preserved bracelets, necklaces, pectorals and charms, in gold, with inlays oi vibrant colour. Beautiiul in themselves, their intricate carvings hint at the extraordinary strength oi Egyptian beliei in the alter llie.
Don't miss the tiny lucky charms (cat no 40) at the leit oi the iuneral mask; the intricate miniature amulets in their own tiny reliquarles on the right; and the comical gold sheaths ior lingers and toes. The panels on the right hand wall give a useiul outline oi the symbols and motlis employed in the decoration oi this orgy oi gold —the ilesh oi the gods.
I BOURNE FINE ART 4 Dttndas Street 557 4H5“. Mon Fri lilam opm.
Sam Bough 20 Feb 5 Mar. 4” works bythis lilth century artist. ()ilsandwatercolotirs.
I eunesnn’vs scorcu HOUSE’l'hird
l-‘Ioot . 3‘) 4| Princes Street. Mon- Sat
0am 5.31)me‘l‘hursUanvopm. The Scottish Crafts Collection t'ntil July
WSS. An exhibition ofcontemporary ctaltwork from Scotland including
tcw ellery . ceramics. glass. textiles. wood and sily ersmithing. organised by the Scottish Development Agency.
I CALTON GALLERY 10 Royal Terrace. 556 Hill). Mon Fri lilam—opm; Sat
lilam— lprn.
Watercolours and drawings by over 150 British and Iiuropean artists. 1790—19-10.
48 The List 1‘) Feb— 3 Mar 1988
I CARLYLE'S GALLERY North Bridge Egypt: The Romance oi the Paraohs From 3 Feb. A celebration otthe l5ilth anniversary of the travels of Stockbridge-born David Roberts RA. in Egypt and the Holy Land. with 250 ofhis superb lithoghraphed views.
I CENTRAL LIBRARY (ieorge IV' Bridge. 225 5584. Mon—Fri 9am—9pm. Sat
9am— 1 pm.
Ancient Egypt Ifntil 2‘) Feb. The library takes a look at Pharaohs and pyramidsto coincide with the (iold of the Pharaohs exhibition at the City Art Centre. Shadow Dance Photographs Until 29 Feb. Conference Room Exhibition.
I CHESSEL GALLERY Moray House College. Mon—Fri; lOam—Spm.
Patrick Heron 19 Feb—l4 Mar. Recent paintings.
I CITY ART CENTRE 2 Market Street. 225 2424 ext 6650. Mon—Sat lilam—(ipm. Licensed cafe. [1)]
Gold oi the Pharaohs Feb—April.
Mon Tue Sat 1(lam—opm: Wed Thurs Fri 10am—9pm; Sun noon—6pm. £1 ((35p). The (iolden Mask of Psussenes I isthe centrepiece ofthis Iigyptian exhibition. Visitor attendance is anticipated by the hundred thousand. so weekends and lunchtimes are bound to attract the queues. See panel for details. See also Fine Art Society.
I COLERIDGE GALLERY 47b George Street. 2201305. Mon—Sat lilam—5.3(ipm.
Wide selection of contemporary British glass. Original prints by contemporary artists and jewellery. I COLLECTIVE GALLERY loo I ligh Street. 220 I260. The Collective have moved up the High Street. While it isorganisingthe new space. the gallery is closed. However. the gallery welcomes interest from artists who would like to show during their SS 8‘) seasons. Write to the above address with details. I DANISH CULTURAL INSTITUTE 3 Donne Terrace. 225 718‘). Mon—Fri 10am—5pm. GitzJohansen L'ntil ls March. “The life of the (ireenland Iiskimo in gouache by Johansen. a Danish artist whospent nearly 20 years( 1930—50) living in this Arctic outpost. I THE DESIGNER GALLERY 1 i llasties Close (round corner from 300 ( iallcry') Cow'gate. 225 272-1. Michael McManus t ‘ntil 5 March. Romeo and Juliet » Shakespeare's words with contemporary photographs. I EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART 1 .auriston l’lace Mon- Sat lilam 5.3llpm. The Constricted View .‘l‘hc recently formed painting co-operative based at lidinburgh (‘ollege of Art mounts their first exhibition in the upstairs Andrew (irant (iallery. Belgrade Exchange I'ntil 3t» l‘eb. (‘etlomir Vasic and Bosko Kat‘anoy ic from the Faculty of Fine Art at Belgrade I 'niversity' exhibit their work. 50 Special Years 24 Feb 9 Mar. The Scottish Special llousing Association celebrates 50 years ofoperation. The exhibition of their work includesa reconstruction of a ‘single end‘. I EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE 2(l(’hambers Street. Mon—Fri l). l5atn~-S.3llpm:Sat .Sun It). l5am—2.3ilpm. Ralph Erskine—Architect t 'ntil 4 Mar. An exhibition of the work of l‘)b’7 RIBA (iold Medalist. An English pacifist whoarrived in Sweden during the Second World War on an old bicycle. Iirskine has built his reputation in his adopted country on humanist views. a belief in inforntality and democracy by concensus. During the Sixties he was best-known for his housing schemes which offered alt alternative to the monotonous units often resulting from mass-production. I'nfortunately his views were not shared by the clients and Iirskine turned to Iingland for work. it w asthen that he redeveloped By ker. a housing scheme in Newcastle whiclt laid the foundations of housing debate during the seventies. Adam Zyw 5- 25 March. With the famous Rank symbol in mind. wa made a giant-size gong during the Iidinburgh Book Festival. This exhibition will show other sculptures which combine the natural beauty of woods like olive and oak with an intelligent humour and sensitivity. I EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY LIBRARY (ieorge Square. (m7 101 l. Mon~ Fri 9am—5pm. Piecing Together the Past t 'ntil 15 April. lixhibition Room. An exhibition to celebrate the Diamond .lubilee otthe University‘s Department of A rchitecture. Warren Hastings and British India Starts 1 Feb. I FILMHOUSE l.othian Road. 22So382. Mon—Sat 12.30pm -l lpm; Sun n.3ll- l lpm. Licensed rest. Faces OI Egypt 1 'ntil 25 Mar. Photography by Robbie Jack. I FINE ART SOCIETY 12 ( ireat King Street. 5560305. Mon Sat lilam- opm. Land oithe Pharaohs l "mil :7 Feb. ‘i‘o coincide with the ( iold of the Pharaohs exhibition at the City Art (‘entre in February. the Fine Art Society have got together a little oftheir own magic with Victorian impressions of ancient civilisation. In the late nineteenth centut \ Egypt pulled in Ifuropean tourists by the boatload. Edward I.ear. Frederick Goodall. David Roberts (Stockbridge-born and a favourite of