Seven new museum openings in 2022: from Egypt to South Korea
Museums have been having a difficult few years as the pandemic has not only affected existing institutions' revenues, but also delayed renovations and the construction of new spaces.
Despite the challenges, a number of museums are pushing ahead with their (re)openings, some, such as the Grand Egyptian Museum, have been decades in the making and are expected to hold grand inauguration ceremonies, while others are part of strategic expansions and renovation projects.
These are the new museum openings to look out for in 2022 around the world. Expected to open in November, the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, will house 100,000 ancient Egyptian artefacts over nearly 500,000 square metres. The project was started 20 years ago by former president Hosni Mubarak, and has faced many delays, not least because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Designed by Heneghan Peng, an architecture firm from Dublin, the project is estimated to have cost $1 billion, funded by loans from the Japanese government.
Among the artefacts to be shown at the Grand Egyptian Museum is Pharaoh Khufu’s “solar barque”, a ritual vessel that would transport the ruler towards the heavens after death. The 45-metre ship, one of the oldest artefacts discovered in Egypt and the world, was moved to the museum in August 2021.
Highlights of the museum include a collection of 5,000 relics from the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well a monumental red granite state of Ramses the Great, which will be showcased in the building’s atrium.
Museum of the Future, Dubai
Dubai’s Museum of the Future, which was listed by National Geographic as one of the most beautiful museums in the world last year, was due to open in 2021 during Expo 2020 Dubai. While the launch has been delayed, the building is almost finished and exhibitions being set up, so it's likely we'll see an opening date announced for this year.
The museum has a broad, aspirational mandate, listing its goals as providing “light in dark times”. Its programming inside the space will include exhibitions, an immersive theatre and various themed attractions and entertainment activities. Most importantly, the museum will explore various topics related to the future – space travel, climate change and ecology and health and wellness, as well as consider the makings of a better world.
Designed by Shaun Killa of Killa Design, the museum features a calligraphic facade created by Emirati artist Mattar Bin Lahej. The script is a quote from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai, that states: “We may not live for hundreds of years, but the products of our creativity can leave a legacy long after we are gone.”
The seven-floor structure, which cost Dh500 million to make, has a distinctive look that makes it stand out in the Dubai Financial District. Its silvery exterior comprises 1,024 pieces that were manufactured by robotic arms.
The National Museum, Oslo
The Nasjonalmuseet in Oslo, which opens in June, promises a wide-ranging display of artworks and objects from antiquity to present day.
The museum is made up of three Norwegian institutions, namely the National Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, combining the collections of all three. More than 5,000 works will be on view as part of the Nasjonalmuseet’s permanent collection, which amounts to some 47,000 pieces.
One of the world’s most recognisable paintings, Edvard Munch’s The Scream, will be on display alongside one of Vincent van Gogh’s self-portraits. The museum will also include a rooftop space for contemporary art exhibitions, a library and a cafe.
