MAKING EGYPT - CLAY PANELS at the Young V&A, London

Making Egypt – an exhibition at the Young V&A in Bethnal Green - explores the innate creativity of Ancient Egypt by reflecting on both its artistic making processes and its impact on popular culture. Sustainability remained at the heart of the curatorial approach, with both existing museum display furniture and new, reusable displays made from common pre-industrial materials found in Ancient Egypt being utilised throughout the exhibition.

121 Collective were commissioned to create a series of three panels which were made naturally using a combination of  locally sourced clay, sand, and hemp. The patterns on each panel were developed in collaboration with the team at Young V&A and took inspiration from traditional hieroglyphics found in Ancient Egyptian tombs.

Within the exhibition, the panels framed a short film produced by artist Zahed Tajeddin exploring the process of making and moulding ‘faience’, a ceramic material with a colourful glaze used by the Ancient Egyptians to produce decorative and devotional objects.

Photographs: Gareth Gardner and 121 Collective.