Cy Twombly

This sculpture was originally made from off-cuts of timber, then cast in bronze. With its sloping mast, it resembles a traditional Nile boat. Models like this were buried in ancient Egyptian tombs to transport the souls of the dead. The title refers to the journey from Egypt’s ancient capital Luxor to the burial grounds in the deserts on the west bank of the Nile. The block of wood placed on the boat could represent a sarcophagus, a stone coffin which would protect the body on its final journey.