National Archaeological Museum to host William Kentridge exhibition

The National Archaeological Museum in Greece is preparing a special exhibition titled ‘Imitate the sleep of stones,’ featuring works by renowned artist William Kentridge. Curated by Burcu Fikretoglu, the exhibition is scheduled to run from October 20, 2026, to January 20, 2027.

The event coincides with a production of Claudio Monteverdi’s opera ‘Orpheus’ at the Greek National Opera, directed by Kentridge in collaboration with the Glyndebourne Festival and the Metropolitan Opera of New York. The exhibition aims to create a dialogue between contemporary art and ancient artifacts, exploring themes such as memory, oblivion, transformation, and survival.

The Central Archaeological Council (KAS) has unanimously approved a request for the temporary loan of a 5th-century BC clay kylix from the Acropolis Museum to be included in the presentation. Attributed to the ‘Pistoxenos Painter,’ the vessel depicts the death of Orpheus at the hands of the Maenads of Thrace.