Michael Rakowitz
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Left to right
Standing female figure with clasped hands
Gypsum (with modern restoration)
Iraq, Tutub (modern Khafajah), Sin Temple IX, Q 42:3
Early Dynastic period (2700-2500 BCE)
Excavated by the Iraq Expedition of the Institute for the Study
of Ancient Cultures in 1933–34
Lent by the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
of The University of Chicago, A12435
Michael Rakowitz, The invisible enemy should not exist, 2007 – ongoing
Objects from cardboard, Middle Eastern packaging and Arabic- English newspapers, glue, museum labels, Dimensions variable
Courtesy the artist and Green Art Gallery, Dubai
Game board fragment with incised squares
Baked clay (with modern restoration)
Iraq, Adab (modern Bismaya), Mound IVa
Old Babylonian period (2004-1595 BCE)
Excavated by the Oriental Expedition Fund in 1903–04
Lent by the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures of The University of Chicago, A381
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, 2025
Installation view. A collaboration between NEON + the Acropolis Museum
Photography © Natalia Tsoukala, Courtesy ΝΕΟΝ, the Acropolis Museum and the artist
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures is the opening exhibition of the trilogy Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, a collaboration between the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the Acropolis Museum and NEON Organization. It presents the multifaceted work of internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Michael Rakowitz interacting with ancient artifacts from the Middle East and southeastern Mediterranean.
Through intensely political works, the exhibition highlights the importance of cultural heritage, and explores themes of loss, restoration and restitution of antiquities, survival and forging new cultural identities.
Allspice | Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures is a timely reminder of the fate of displaced people and cultural artifacts in the midst of war.
In the exhibition Allspice at the Acropolis Museum, Michael Rakowitz collaborates with ancient artifacts to advocate for the restitution of cultural heritage, highlighting themes of loss, identity, and survival through contemporary art.
The Iraqi-American artist’s work has been brought into dialogue with ancient artefacts in a first for the Athens-based museum.
The Acropolis Museum’s recently inaugurated exhibition traces stories of survival, identity, and restitution.