During a meeting with a delegation of the 25 January Revolution Youth, Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs Zahi Hawass decided to hold an art exhibition that tells the story of the struggles of the Egyptian Revolution.
Hawass explains that the exhibition will first be shown in Cairo and then tour 14 European countries. The exhibition will consist of art in various media created by Egyptian artists and that reflect their views on Egypt’s Revolution.
It will also include a photo gallery showing scenes of Tahrir Square as well as the demonstrators. A committee of representatives of the 25 January Youth as well as officials from the museum department of the Ministry of Antiquities will be exstablished to produce the exhibition.
Mohamed Abdel Fatah, head of the museum department, stated that a collection of archaeological replicas would be included with the exhibition. These replicas, said Abdel Fatah, would help reflect some of the themes of the revolution — for example, a replica statue of the Egyptian goddess of truth and justice, Maat, while peace and prosperity would be symbolised by the god Osiris, god of the afterlife.
Ahmed Kamil, director of the technical office of the museum department, said that photographs of some of those who died during the revolution, as well as some of their personal belongings, such as clothes and flags they held when killed, would also be displayed in the exhibition.
A collection of books about antiquities would accompany the exhibition, including those printed by the Ministry of Antiquities, a selection from prominent archaeologists, and those of Hawass.
In addition, a collection of brochures and newsletters concerning Egyptian archaeological sites and tourist attractions would be on display in an attempt to promote tourism to Egypt. This section of the exhibition, said Kamil, would be financed in collaboration with the Red Sea governorate and four travel agencies.
After the exhibition has completed a tour in Egypt and Europe, Hawass announced, it would be placed on permanent display at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC), now under construction in Al-Fustat area of Old Cairo. The purpose of NMEC is to gather the history of Egyptian civilisation from prehistoric to modern times, and this exhibition will make it complete, Hawass stated, being the latest episode in Egypt’s modern history.
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