The Goddess Isis then and now. A conversation with artist Nicole Rafiki

The granite sculpture "Woman Depicted as Isis" is one of the oldest works in the National Museum's collection and is now on display in the exhibition "An Audience with Art – The National Museum in the Queen Sonja Art Stable".

In ancient times the Egyptian goddess Isis was known and worshipped in large parts of Europe and Asia in addition to the country of her origin Kemet – ancient Egypt. What makes this sculpture relevant today?

As an artist, Nicole Rafiki is interested in an artwork's context, and what happens to an object when it is removed from its origin. In this conversation, Rafiki and curator at the National Museu, Cynthia Osiecki, discuss the worship of Isis that spread to large parts of the Greco-Roman world, and share thoughts on the significance of sculpture today.

Nicole Rafiki is an artist and curator based in Oslo. Her work challenges stereotypical depictions of spaces, contexts and people affected by conflicts related to migration. She has exhibited in Oslo, Trondheim and Bergen, and was festival artist for Oslo World in 2020. Rafiki is also assistant curator of the Young Artists' Society (UKS). This summer she will curate and participate in Good Mourning – an art project in memory of the terror attacks of 22 July at the Intercultural Museum.

This event is part of the program for the exhibition "An Audience with Art – The National Museum in the Queen Sonja Art Stable". The exhibition is temporarily closed due to infection control measures in Oslo. We hope to be allowed to open this exhibition soon.

The conversation will be in English and will be streamed from Facebook.