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The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a reach that expands across the globe and back in time. Its collections cover everything from First Century Chinese pottery to Medieval armor to masterpieces of Impressionist painting. Now, for the first time, part of the collection has gone underground.
As part of the exhibit "Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now," see three site-specific installations inside local subway stations. The artworks, commissioned by MTA Arts & Design, "are critical to the story of the ongoing reception of ancient Egypt within Black communities," Met officials explained. Though the pieces are off-site, they are considered part of The Met's exhibition. If you want to get a full understanding of "Flight into Egypt," on view through February 17, you've got to check out the museum's exhibit and the subway art, too.
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Art in the subway is nothing new. Since the 1980s, the MTA has commissioned permanent artworks for the public transit system. But for the first time, the MTA and The Met worked together to highlight three existing works inspired by ancient Egypt at subway and Metro-North railroad stations. All three of the featured subway artworks are located within a two-mile radius of Harlem.
“Celebrations of ancient Egypt unite these three site-specific works.”
"Celebrations of ancient Egypt unite these three site-specific works, symbolizing the global diasporic resonance of and continued kinship to this undeniably great African culture. While seemingly disparate in style and form, these installations foreground considerations of community and history intrinsic to the neighborhood in which they are located," per The Met.
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The exhibition explores how Black artists and other cultural figures have engaged with ancient Egypt through visual, sculptural, literary, musical, scientific, scholarly, religious, political, and performative pursuits. Expect to see nearly 200 works of art that traces 150 years. Some sections examine how Black creatives have employed ancient Egyptian imagery to craft a unifying identity, while other sections dig into the contributions of Black scholars to the study of ancient Egypt. Another area highlights the engagement of modern and contemporary Egyptian artists with ancient Egypt.
“Ancient Egypt is a symbolic source for people of the African diaspora that continues to inspire."
"Ancient Egypt is a symbolic source for people of the African diaspora that continues to inspire. This groundbreaking exhibition brings to light a modern history that has developed over nearly 150 years and is also an active creative tradition existing outside the walls of the Museum and in daily life," Max Hollein, The Met’s CEO said in a press release.
To learn even more about the intersection between The Met's art and the subway's art, head to the New York Transit Museum for a talk called "Museums without Walls: the MTA and the Met Intersect." It's hosted by the exhibit's curator Akili Tommasino on Thursday, February 6.
Find the subway art
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Houston Conwill's "The Open Secret"
What: This piece dating back to 1984-1986, was the first commission by the MTA to be installed in the subway system. It serves as a memorial to the Harlem community of the 1980s. Look for a pyramid-shaped bronze cosmograms that explore Conwill's thematic concerns: community, history, and the creation of sacred spaces as each relates to the African American experience and quest for equality.
Where: At 125th Street Station (4, 5, 6)
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Maren Hassinger's "Message from Malcolm"
What: In the 1998 mosaic "Message from Malcolm," Hassinger pays tribute to Malcolm X through a series of quotations throughout the station. Among the quotations are, "I believe in a society in which people can live like human beings on the basis of equality." Another quote brings Egypt into focus: "I lived in Egypt, I stayed in Egypt, and I was among brothers and I felt the spirit of brotherhood."
Where: Central Park North at 110th Street (2, 3)
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Terry Adkins's "Harlem Encore"
What: You can see this one without even paying your $2.90 for subway fare. Located along the MTA Metro-North's two-mile Park Avenue Viaduct, look for aluminum panels that make up "Harlem Encore." The distinct silhouetted panels installed in 1999 celebrate Harlem's past achievements and bright future. Sphinxes and streaming suns add strength, dignity, and timelessness to the piece.
Where: At 125th Street Metro-North Railroad station