A new exhibit at New York's Brooklyn Museum titled "Solid Gold" highlights the enduring significance of gold across various cultures. This exhibition features over 500 golden artifacts, including fashion pieces and jewelry, paintings, and sculptures, as part of the museum's 200th anniversary celebrations.
The exhibit is designed to provide an immersive experience, guiding visitors along a glittery path surrounded by stunning gold objects and images. While the displays celebrate the beauty and luxury of gold, they also confront the metal's complex history, addressing the environmental and social ramifications of gold mining.
Spanning thousands of years, the exhibition showcases gold's versatility and symbolism, linking ancient civilizations to contemporary art. A notable piece includes a gold chain link headdress worn by singer Janelle Monáe on the cover of "Rolling Stone," which curator Matthew Yokobosky suggests could connect to both Rick James in the 1980s and Cleopatra in ancient Egypt. The exhibit features a section titled 'Crowned: from Egyptian queens to hip hop kings,' exploring the relationship between hip hop culture and ancient traditions.