Australian Museum opens new Machu Picchu cultural exhibition

The Australian Museum is today opening its new major cultural exhibition - 'Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru'.

Developed in partnership with Neon Global, Museo Larco and the Ministry of Culture of Peru, the exhibition shares the secrets of Peru’s ancient civilisations culminating in the Incan Empire that created Machu Picchu.

Featuring an opulent collection of Andean gold to ever travel outside of Peru, the exhibition will appeal to visitors across the generations with storytelling, priceless artefacts and immersive experiences.

Sydney is the fourth city in the world to host this exhibition following on from Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Paris, France; and Milan, Italy.

Situated on a mountain top with the Andean rainforest below, Machu Picchu is recognised as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a symbol of the Inca Empire’s architectural and cultural achievements.

The exhibition focuses on six key themes, tracing the origins of ancient Peruvians societies, their religious beliefs and rituals, royal power, trade and agriculture, and their eventual decline, at the hands of Spanish conquistadors.

Australian Museum Director and Chief Executive, Kim McKay said visitors to the museum will be able to discover ancient Peru and Machu Picchu outside of its original site. 

McKay enthused “full of mystery and culture dating back over 14000 years, Peru is a stunning land of deserts etched with ancient geoglyphs shown in the Nazca Lines, soaring peaks harbouring secret cities like Machu Picchu and awe-inspiring landscapes. These ancient Peruvian civilisations will come to life through 134 priceless treasures on show, many made from precious metals such as gold, silver and gilded copper.

“We invite visitors to uncover the extraordinary legacy of ancient Peru, by visiting Machu Picchu and The Golden Empires of Peru, exclusively here in Sydney.”  

NSW Minister for the Arts, Music and Nighttime Economy, John Graham congratulated the Australian Museum on securing Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru as an exclusive blockbuster exhibition for NSW following the success of the Ramses exhibition at the AM last summer.

Minister Graham added “once again the Australian Museum is bringing an extraordinary exhibition to Sydney, this time celebrating the rich cultural history of Peru with Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru. Today the achievements of the ancient Inca people still captivate the imaginations of people around the world. This wonderful exhibition offers people who want to explore Machu Picchu, but perhaps can’t travel there themselves, the chance to do so.”

The Ambassador of Peru, His Excellency, Vitaliano Gaspar Gallardo Valencia, said it was important to share these valuable cultural artefacts to a larger audience outside of Peru and noted “this exhibition is an invitation to discover more about Peru’s magnificent past. We are excited to bring these treasures to the Australian Museum, strengthening Peru’s bi-lateral relations with Australia through cultural exchange and multi-sensory exhibitions such as Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru.”

Executive Chairman & Group Chief Executive of NEON, Ron Tan, said the Group is thrilled to partner with Museo Larco and the Government of Peru to bring these rare artefacts to Australia.

“We’re excited to bring audiences closer to the rich history of Peru through the showcase of this remarkable collection of priceless artefacts and national treasures and we look forward to welcoming huge crowds to come explore the secrets of the Incan Empire at the Australian Museum,” Tan shared.

Visitors will journey through the vast expanse of Andean history, discovering the myths and cosmology of ancient Peru, through the royal burial treasures, exquisite ceramics and objects that reveal the everyday and sacred lives of six prominent cultures covering the most recent 3000 years of civilisations: Chavín, Moche, Chimú, Nazca, Lambayeque, and Inca.

For an added immersive experience, visitors are able to embark on the first-ever virtual reality (VR) tour of Machu Picchu, offering a bird’s-eye view of the famed UNESCO World Heritage-listed site using cutting-edge technologies. Captured during the COVID pandemic, when Machu Picchu was closed to visitors, this dramatic footage reveals the historic sanctuary in its natural, untouched beauty. The VR experience recently won ‘Best Use of VR’ at the Lumiere Awards.

Alongside rare ceramics, visitors will encounter magnificent body ornaments, textiles and ceremonial tools that reflect the deep connection between ancient Peruvian societies and their supernatural beliefs. Deities that represented natural forces played a central role in the spiritual and cultural life of these ancient empires.

Event Details

• What: Exhibition and VR, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru

• When: Saturday 23rd November 2024

• Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 2/3

• Exhibition Tickets: Off peak: Adult $37.50, Child $20.00, Family x 4 $94.00; Peak: Adult $42.50, Child $ 23.50, Family x 4 $110.00. VR experience: $22.00

For more information and to book tickets visit Australian Museum

Images. Credit: Australian Museum