The Temple of Dendur, an iconic ancient Egyptian monument and a highlight at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is set to feature an exhibition of sculptures by Swiss modernist artist Alberto Giacometti this summer. This event is particularly significant, as the temple rarely serves as a venue for exhibitions.
Titled "Giacometti in the Temple of Dendur," the exhibition will showcase 17 sculptures, with 14 pieces sourced from the Fondation Giacometti and the remaining three from the Met's own collection.
This exhibition is being promoted as a noteworthy event by the Met, especially as its modern art wing is currently undergoing renovations. It reflects the museum's intent to bridge the gap between ancient and contemporary art, a vision previously demonstrated in the 2024 exhibition "Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876-Now," which paired ancient artifacts with modern artworks inspired by them.
Beginning June 12, visitors will encounter Giacometti's Walking Woman (I) from 1932 in the temple's offering hall. This piece exemplifies his renowned slender figures poised for movement. Another notable work, Women of Venice (1956), will be displayed on the terrace of the temple.
Dating back to approximately 10 BCE, the Temple of Dendur was installed at the Met in 1978, over a decade after Giacometti's passing. The exhibition aims to highlight Giacometti's fascination with Egyptian art, which he experienced firsthand in Florence and Rome during the early stages of his career.
Collaboration between the Met's Egyptian and modern art departments brought this exhibition to life, with Aude Semat and Stephanie D'Alessandro representing their respective departments, alongside Emilie Bouvard from the Fondation Giacometti.
In a statement, D'Alessandro remarked, "Giacometti continuously returned to the question of how to infuse his work with the experience of being human. His sustained engagement with ancient Egyptian art offered not only formal clarity but a model for how the figure could embody both stillness and intensity. Within and around the Temple of Dendur, his sculptures enhance our understanding of his lifelong quest to distill human presence into its most essential form."