Exhibition Design Museo Egizio in Turin by OMA

The Gallery of the Kings, a collection of monumental statues from the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, is part of the Museo Egizio in Turin. To mark the 200th anniversary of the museum, OMA and Andrea Tabocchini Architecture designed a new exhibition concept for the collection. The designers staged a symbolic transition from darkness to light, reminiscent of ancient Egyptian creation mythology. It begins with a dark entrance area, where images projected onto the walls tell the story of Karnak – the place where the statues originated. From there, visitors enter the two bright main halls where the actual statues are displayed.

Discreetly reflective aluminium walls form the backdrop for the statues. © Marco Cappelletti for OMA and Andrea Tabocchini Architecture

Part of the exhibition concept is to incorporate the existing 17th century architecture. As part of this, the original 2006 exhibition design, which was conceived as a black box, has been dismantled. As a result, the large windows and vaults are once again visible and the statues are bathed in daylight, as they were originally in Karnak. Tall aluminium walls provide a discreet backdrop and serve as information panels, with subtle reflections of daylight on their surfaces. They become a modern link between the Baroque architecture and the ancient statues.

The concept is a symbolic transition from darkness to light. © Marco Cappelletti for OMA and Andrea Tabocchini Architecture

The concept follows a symbolic journey through an ancient Egyptian temple. In the first exhibition hall, two sphinxes face each other, flanked by standing and seated statues of the goddess Sekhmet – an arrangement reminiscent of the outer spaces of the temple, including the processional routes and sun-drenched courtyards. The second hall follows the same principle. It relates to the interior spaces of the temple and is decorated with statues of kings and gods. In this way, the concept interweaves the different elements, creating an exhibition architecture in which the different levels of time are skilfully intertwined.