Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition.
The vogue for immersive shows is starting to feel stale, so when I gave in to my son’s pleas to visit Tutankhamun: The immersive exhibition in London, it was with a sense of foreboding.
I needn’t have worried.
First up were replicas of items like Tutankhamun’s famous death mask and sarcophagus, plus some real artefacts on loan, which excited my son. Then on to the immersive part, where, in familiar style, projections on the walls, floor and ceilings were designed to draw us in as we ventured down the Nile and into the tomb.
Much better was the virtual reality room, where, headsets on, we embodied the young king on his journey from tomb to afterlife. But my favourite room let me “become” archaeologist Howard Carter and explore his camp in the 1920s.
It’s gimmicky, sure, but also hugely imaginative and informative. While the detail was probably lost on my 6-year-old daughter, she got swept along by the exhibition, whose immersive elements really bring the subject (back) to life.
Article amended on 5 June 2025
We corrected the name of archaeologist Howard Carter.
Topics:
- exhibition/
- ancient humans
Source: Humans - newscientist.com
