Exhibition and Lecture about the Danish Expedition to the Orient
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Alexandria—The BA Arts Center is organizing an Exhibition entitled “Danish Expedition to the Orient 1761- 1767” from 26 April to 16 May 2009. A Lecture entitled “The Life and Travels of Carsten Niebuhr” will also take place before the opening of the Exhibition.
Niebuhr was part of the expedition to the Orient (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon). Together with his fellow scientists, they not only drew maps, but they also described customs and traditions, made weather observations and sketched mosques and ruins. Furthermore, they collected and described a vast quantity of flora and fauna from the region. Likewise, religions were described as well as local dresses and costumes.
Additionally, books and manuscripts were bought and sent home. In 1772, Niebuhr’s Beschreibung Von Arabien (Description of Arabia) was issued, and his diaries were published in several volumes in the years 1774-78.
The exhibition features a number of etchings made during the journey by draughtsman and painter Georg Wilhelm Baurenfeind, as well as maps and etchings by Carsten Niebuhr. Also a series of quotes from Niebuhr’s diaries have been included.
The Lecture will take place at the BACC Lectures Hall at 10:00 am, and the Exhibition will be held at the West Exhibition Hall.