King Tut Exhibit

Last night I went to the King Tut Exhibit at the de Young Museum with some friends. Apparently it was brought to San Francisco with great expense, thus the increase in ticket prices for the show: $27.50 for non-members, $ 25.00 for members. The advertisements, the careful reconfiguration of the museum and the timed entrances portend that this is art show to see in San Francisco this year. The parcel check is posted outside the museum, there is a separate counter set up for the purchase of King Tut tickets, there are areas cordoned off for people waiting in line to get in, and your are forewarned to get your audio guide before you enter the first hall. But ultimately, the show was disappointing, mostly because the fireworks around the entire show seem greater than the substance of the exhibit itself.

The purchasers of the 7:00 show were brought into a dark room where a short video by Omar Sharif was presented. At its conclusion, the doors automatically opened to the first hall. It was as if I entering the Disneyland ride to the Haunted Mansion. The exhibit had text labels below eye-level and above eye-level in LARGE font, I presume for the large crowds that come during the day. But the text that usually accompanies exhibits upon entering a room seemed to lack substance; it was much more spare compared to previous exhibits presented. The artifacts were gorgeous and beautiful: there is a the sarcophagus of Tijuya, Tutankhamon's great grandmother, and the detail and goldsmithing on the small vicera coffinette was amazing. My main critique is that while the entire show is thematically presented rooms with Egyptian hieroglyphics and large images of the desert, the substance of the show seemed sparse. I imagined that the show would have Tutankhamon's beautiful death mask displayed in the 70s (apparently it is considered as a National Treasure of Egypt and no longer travels) ; my friend Yoriko expected to see his mummified body. Comparatively, the Chihuly exhibit seemed more dense and substantial with many more peices of art, explanations, and film. I was glad I attended after 5:00, where tickets for members are $15 (Tut at Twilight) and viewed the entire show in a little over an hour while not having to brave impinging crowds.

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Kalin's drawings:

Hector

Kalin and Yoriko (mommy)