This autumn Barnsley Museums will be presenting three very unique and captivating exhibitions, all of which explore the fascinating connections between Yorkshire, God’s own county and ancient Egypt, the land of the Gods.
Guest curated by world renowned Egyptologist, Professor Joann Fletcher, the exhibitions bring together displays of artefacts, artworks and contemporary photography that have never been seen together before.
Each exhibition highlights a different aspect of the longstanding links between ancient Egypt and Yorkshire, looking at how the mystical land has captivated people’s imagination, influenced local architecture and inspired a wide range of Yorkshire men and women to embark on voyages of discovery uncovering priceless artefacts.
On Saturday 23 September, Experience Barnsley, the award winning museum, will open ‘Gods’ Land in God’s County: Ancient Egypt in Yorkshire’. Through a multitude of artefacts, hand selected by Joann from museums across the county, the story of ancient Egypt will be told alongside the story of Yorkshire’s relationship with this extraordinary ancient culture. From the Grand Tour taken by York-born George Sandys as far as Egypt in 1610 to Joann’s own work in Egypt over the last 30 years, these ancient objects highlight the legacy and stories of local explorers, antiquarians, archaeologists and artists.
Opening on the same day at the nearby Cooper Gallery is ‘From Sackville Street to the Valley of the Kings: The Art of Harold Jones’. This exhibition tells the story of Harold Jones, the Barnsley born artist and archaeologist who spent years studying and exploring the Valley of the Kings in the years leading up to the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. On display will be a selection of his original works, colourful paintings of royal tomb scenes, skilful drawings of the artefacts discovered and an archive of family material brought together in Barnsley for the very first time, the artworks and archives generously loaned by Carmarthenshire Museum.
The third and final exhibition opens at Cannon Hall on Saturday 28 October - ‘Resurrecting Ancient Egypt: A Monumental Yorkshire Journey’. Capturing the breathtaking, evocative and often moving architecture inspired by Egypt’s ancient culture, Joann worked with Kyte Photography, travelling across Yorkshire to discover and photograph pyramids in Castle Howard, temples in Leeds, sphinxes in Bradford and obelisks in Ripon, capturing the spirit of ancient Egypt in the buildings of Scarborough, Sheffield, Hebden Bridge and Barnsley.
These three exhibitions are accompanied by a varied and exciting programme of events and activities. For more information about these and the exhibitions themselves, please visit www.barnsley-museums.com
