This week, a prominent gathering took place in the Siwa Oasis, located in Egypt’s Western Desert, where various cultural figures celebrated the opening of a private museum dedicated to the legacy of Peter Beard, the renowned American photographer who passed away in. Among the distinguished attendees were King Frederik X of Denmark, Prince Muhammad Ali of Egypt, and notable artists such as Danh Vo and India Mahdavi, along with Beard’s widow, Nejma Beard.
The four-day event, organized by Beard’s daughter, Zara Beard, in collaboration with the Estate of Peter Beard, commenced with an elegant evening featuring cocktails and a moonlit dinner. The highlight was the unveiling of the museum, titled Eye of the Desert: The Peter Beard Museum Siwa. Guests enjoyed accommodations at the Adrere Amellal Ecolodge, a unique luxury retreat built from local materials such as salt and clay, offering an off-grid experience that eschews electricity and plastic.
How it works
Dr. Mounir Neamatalla, the visionary behind both the museum and the ecolodge, played a critical role in this initiative. His organization, Environmental Quality International (EQI), founded in 1981, is committed to sustainable development and the preservation of cultural heritage across Africa and the Middle East. The museum exemplifies Neamatalla’s dedication to ecotourism and environmental stewardship.
Situated an eight-hour drive from Cairo, the Siwa Oasis is rich in history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the 10th millennium BC. This site is renowned in ancient Egyptian history, particularly for the Oracle of Amun temple, which Alexander the Great visited in 331 BC to affirm his reign over Egypt. The ruins of this historical landmark continue to draw numerous visitors each year.
Beard’s profound connection to Egypt
Peter Beard’s connection to Egypt was deep, shaped by his friendship with British painter Francis Bacon. Beard regarded Egypt as an integral part of the continent’s rich cultural heritage. In his diaries focused on Egypt, he noted, “So much came into Egypt from the Land of Punt (Somalia) (also Sudan), you can see it in the art here.” His work emphasizes Egypt’s role as a vessel of ancient African wisdom, capturing its essence through intimate photographs of hieroglyphs, Luxor’s ruins, and mummified artifacts.
Introduced to Dr. Neamatalla by prominent archaeologist Zahi Hawass, Beard first visited Siwa in 2001 with his family, including Nejma and Zara. This visit, along with subsequent trips, deepened his appreciation for the region. Zara recalls her father’s perspective: “He did not arrive with conquest in his eyes. He came instead as a witness.” Beard’s travels reflected his belief that beauty, especially when it is on the verge of vanishing, possesses moral significance.
A lasting tribute to artistic vision
Both the museum and ecolodge harmonize with Siwa’s natural beauty, constructed from local mud and resources. The museum’s collection features Beard’s iconic large-format photographs, many adorned with hand-painted borders created by a collective of Kenyan artists from the Hog Ranch Art Department, established at Beard’s estate. One gallery showcases pages from Beard’s diaries, blending art and narrative, while another is dedicated to personal family photographs.
Embracing beauty and responsibility
The museum is intended as a permanent tribute to Peter Beard’s artistic contributions and his time spent in Siwa, serving as a reminder that beauty and a commitment to the preservation of the Earth must coexist. As highlighted in the museum’s opening announcement, Beard’s legacy is multifaceted, reflecting his profound understanding of the interconnectedness of nature and humanity, securing his place among the greatest artists of the 20th century.
In her poignant poem titled “For the Record of the Living,” Zara Beard encapsulates her father’s spirit:
This is not silence—
It is the desert remembering.
He gathered what the world chose to forget,
And laid it down in blood and paper.
Salt keeps what time cannot
Love keeps what death cannot.
Enter as a witness.
The wild is not gone
It is only waiting
To be seen.
