STARS OF EGYPTOLOGY
At 25 years of age, Curtis has been interested in ancient Egypt since he was 6 years old. A creative man who paints, writes, models, makes films and presents, he is set to be a star of tomorrow, perhaps in Egyptology! What do you think? I know some of you would like to see him on the big screen and maybe you will, sooner than you think. I caught up with Curtis after his sojourn in Italy where he spent an exciting Christmas with his new Italian family. Yes, the heartthrob is about to be married. Sorry about that, fans. Anyway, here is the exclusive interview. Enjoy!
How old were you when you became interested in Egypt?
I would say I was about five or six years old. What really started it all was the 1999 Movie “The Mummy”. I was travelling with my Mom to Zimbabwe and was watching the movie on the bus, however, we arrived before the film had ended. I was absolutely devastated that I didn’t see the end, so now I have seen the end over five hundred times. No joke! What really interested me was the beauty of ancient Egyptian culture, religion and their art! My Dad even bought be a gilded porcelain sphinx, which started my collection off at a young age … maybe a bad idea – haha! I’m almost twenty-five and basically have my own personal museum.
How did you develop your interest?
From a young age I just wanted to learn more and more, so I guess when I was a (baby Egyptologist) I watched National Geographic all day long, hoping a documentary on the Pharaohs would come on…thank goodness they did! I started to buy a weekly magazine that was all about the Egyptian gods, which proved to be exceptional reading. Now I have acquired much more sophisticated books though! Friends of mine who know me well know that I have always been obsessed with Egyptology. Most who just meet me think its a recent fascination and that I learned over a quick time. No! It’s years and years of being a sponge. My biggest inspirations when I was young were Salima Ikram and Zahi Hawass. Their passion for history really inspired me. I NEVER thought that eighteen years later I would have the honour of actually collaborating with Professor Ikram! And after my first visit to Egypt when I was twenty-one, I became entirely consumed with passion to try and inspire the “new generation” to become interested in history and in the same way when I looked up to Salima and Zahi. This led to producing documentaries to tell the story of Egypt’s history with a fresh approach.
What is your favourite book on ancient Egypt?
Come on! That’s a tough question. Apart from my own “Egypt Through The Ages” (not selfishly promoting) I love soo many books, from “The Ancient Egyptian Encyclopedia by Helen Studdwick” or “The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt by Aiden Dodson” for factual referencing! But for beauty (because sometime I just want to admire the art) is “TUTANKHAMUN” by Zahi Hawass/Sandro Vannini. But my newest fav is the large reprint by Salima Ikram of the 1830’s book “Emille Prisse d’Avennes: Egyptian Art”.
What projects have you done?
When I first visited Egypt, myself and my mom filmed so much footage that after editing it into a video for myself, we decided to release it as a 90 minute documentary. My Mom, who used to be a professional photographer for people such as Jane Fonda etc., is a great help to have create these projects! “Discover Egypt” was very well received, but it didn’t tell the story I wanted to tell. So I went back and produced a four-part series “Egypt Through The Ages” telling the chronological history which was distributed by Monarch films and sold to Amazon Prime USA and UK. However, after a year on the streaming site, many people in other countries couldn’t watch it, so I released it for free on YouTube. For me it wasn’t meant for making money, it was there to tell a story. Of course if you have watched ”Through The Ages”, you will notice that in Part One I was very lucky to have yourself, Sharon, featured to help convey more Middle Kingdom history. Part Three in the series is dedicated to Ramesses II, and I was able to collaborate with Salima Ikram who lent her voice to narrating the letter of Nefertari to the Queen of the Hitties … an experience I never thought possible. Then my friend, Mary Allison from Ancient Destinations Tours asked me to accompany her first tour through Egypt. We shot a 100 minute documentary “Expedition Egypt” which has done exceptionally well on YouTube now. Mary and I are wanting to now do tours through Egypt, so if anyone wants to join us, please feel free to contact me!
Late 2019, I published my 620-page book “Egypt Through The Ages” which is filled with my photography and research telling Egypt’s chronological history. A project that took me four years to complete.
Now I am releasing a short YouTube documentary that I filmed in collaboration with the Museo Achechologico Di Napoli in Italy, where with photographic technology we are able to bring an ancient Egyptian couple back to life!
You are a collector. What is your favourite piece?
I have a weakness for “GOOD” Egyptian art or “GOOD” replicas! So don’t be shocked when I say that I have over two hundred (I’ve lost count) items in my collection. Statues, masks, busts, papyrus, jewellery. I have two Tut mask replicas one in a glass case, one which was used for the Tut Exhibition in the 1970’s. A Nefertiti replica, Queen Tiye, Head of Nefertem, Psusennes, a three- meter papyrus of the Book of the Dead. Look I love them all otherwise I wouldn’t have them! My pieces are hand made, none of this plastic factory stuff, so its not kitschy stuffy. However, my favourite piece took over four months to craft out of wood and limestone plaster, paint and gold leaf. It’s my OWN death mask. Some might say its strange, but when I die I would like to be mummified and therefore I need a mask … after all life is short but death is for eternity.
Who is your favourite Egyptian pharaoh?
No matter what, Ramesses II will always be my absolute favourite. Some love him, some think his ego was too big, but you could say that with almost every other pharaoh out there. When you look at a mummy we all have different reactions based on what energy we feel from them. When I saw Ramesses, I just stood and looked at his face and cried for over ten minutes, until I realised maybe the other visitors should also look into the face of one of the greatest kings to have lived. I just find myself drawn so much to the 19th Dynasty. I’d possibly say my speciality is that time period (not just because Sharon teases me for having the same nose as Ramesses) (”Huh?” from Sharon) but of course we have to mention Ramesses’ wife … Nefertari. She’s just someone that I would love to have actually met if I could go back in time.
Where do you see yourself in five years in relation to your interest in ancient Egypt?
I would love to be making more documentaries. Many museums around Europe have uncatalogued items because they haven’t taken the time to investigate what they are, so that would be a great project. But in five years’ time I want to have more books out too, and maybe directing a feature film on … well that’s my secret for now.
Check out the young star’s life, films and books at: rb.gy/zzxixn!
Egypt Through The Ages is available on Barnes and Noble and Amazon.: rb.gy/5jjayf.
Check out Curtis’ new interview series on Instagram!
Cheryl Woodside
Great Interview guys