At the start of 2026, Egypt will command international attention in the heart of the French capital through a major cultural event hosted at the iconic Louvre Museum. From January 16 to February 15, visitors to the Louvre’s famed Cour Carrée will encounter “The Mirror Gate,” a monumental sculptural installation inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization, alongside a photography exhibition highlighting the richness of contemporary Egyptian creativity.
Held under the patronage of the French and Egyptian Ministries of Culture, and supported by the Cultural Events Committee of Paris 1 and the City of Paris Center, the month-long event represents a high-profile celebration of Egypt’s artistic heritage—past and present—on one of the world’s most prestigious cultural stages.
A Monumental Sculpture Rooted in Ancient Egypt
The centerpiece of the event is “The Mirror Gate 2,” a large-scale sculptural work by Argentine artist Pilar Zeta. Crafted from alabaster and Aswan red granite, the installation was constructed by Marmonil, Egypt’s historic marble, granite, and quarrying company.
The artwork takes the form of a monumental gateway set atop a chessboard-like base, leading visitors toward an oval mirror. Symbolically, the piece represents limitless potential, self-reflection, and the human journey toward self-discovery—bridging the visual language of ancient Egypt with contemporary artistic expression.
This marks the second international appearance of The Mirror Gate, following its acclaimed debut in 2023 during the “Forever Is Now” international art exhibition at the Giza Pyramids, where it stood as a striking dialogue between antiquity and modernity.
Contemporary Egypt Through the Lens
Running concurrently with the sculpture installation, a photography exhibition titled “Mystical Egypt” will be hosted in the corridors of Carrousel du Louvre, the underground shopping and cultural complex adjacent to the museum.
Featuring more than 20 photographs by Egyptian photographers Mahmoud Hawari and Mohamed Kamal, the exhibition offers an intimate portrait of Egypt beyond familiar clichés. The images reveal everyday moments, traditions, and cultural textures that reflect a living, evolving society shaped by history yet firmly rooted in the present.
Rather than focusing solely on monuments, the exhibition highlights contemporary Egyptian life—its rhythms, contrasts, and quiet beauty—offering Parisian and international audiences a fresh visual narrative.
A Cultural Journey From Antiquity to Modern Life
According to Stéphane Rouvier-Mirail, the exhibition’s scientific coordinator, the event was initiated by Carla Arrigoni, President of the Cultural Events Committee at Paris 1, with the aim of creating an immersive cultural journey.
Visitors, he explained, will begin their experience in the Louvre’s open courtyard, where The Mirror Gate 2 symbolically opens a passage between ancient Egypt and contemporary creativity. The journey then continues into the Carrousel du Louvre, where photographs capture meaningful moments from daily Egyptian life—creating a seamless dialogue between monumentality and intimacy, past and present.
