Also yesterday it was announced that a team of archaeologists from Cairo University and the Paris Institute of Heritage Preservation will be doing a special scan of the tomb to see if archaeologist Nicholas Reeves is right in his theory that the tomb was made for, and still may contain, the missing Nefertiti. How exciting! Tut's tomb is small and was hastily prepared. Tombs took years to prepare, and when a young king died unexpectedly, the powers that be had to improvise. There are signs that other chambers may exist behind the painted walls that have entertained tourists for years. It is thought that Nefertiti, the subject of the iconic sculpture from the New Kingdom, is Tut's mother. Archaeologists have been trying to solve the mystery of the missing queen for years. It would make sense that they put her in the same place as Tut. Only to physically disturb Tut's tomb would be an outrage, so technology comes to the rescue again. I can hardly wait to see what they find. Maybe in a hundred years people will be recalling the year Nefertiti, and her tomb, was discovered.
Having been addicted to all things ancient Egyptian since I first saw a book with pyramids in it at the age of five, this is really exciting. I visited Tut's tomb, and the Cairo Museum where I saw all the gorgeous tomb objects that were buried with him. The mask of Tut is truly something to behold. The solid golden surface is almost lifelike. Stunning. I gobbled up original texts from the early Egyptologists -- Maspero, Petrie, Carter. Their roads of discovery were filled with mundane, difficult, unrelenting and often unexciting toil. In the 90's I was able to work with some current Egyptologists who described the same pursuits. They all worked tirelessly for that one big moment when history would literally change through what they discovered. Imagine that.
As an artist, it isn't that much different. Some artists are happy continually making art that stays the same over time. Other artists dabble in a variety of directions hoping to bring it all together in a piece that changes the way the world is seen, or how it appears. It is hard work to keep going, sometimes, no matter which way an artist creates. Some artists give up completely, as the rewards of such toil can be elusive. The constant work and toil brings does deliver rewards, however. While art might not change world history, a unique and novel artwork can change an artist's personal history. An artist has to keep searching to find that missing tomb, break the seal, and see what is inside.
What will you make today?