Artist Alana Burns pays homage to Mesoamerican and Egyptian cultures, exploring their rich heritage through the materials and artistic traditions that define them, as part of Formed by Dialogue 2nd Edition.

Mexico City-based multidisciplinary artist Alana Burns presents her work at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir as part of Art D’Égypte’s latest exhibition, Formed by Dialogue, which closes this weekend. 

Alana’s pieces bring together materials such as tumbaga, shell, pearls and jade, each carrying a history of its own. She is particularly fascinated by their ability to endure, to be transformed by different hands and, through generations, to retain their meaning. “Being part of this exhibition has been very special to me,” says Burns, born in 1988. “I see so many similarities between what inspires me and the cultural histories that surround me here.”

“Coming from Mexico, a country with such a rich history and cultural heritage, I feel deeply connected to this environment. History, archaeology and the relationship between objects and the people who made and used them are essential sources of inspiration in my practice."- Alana Burns 

Walking into the exhibition space for the first time was an emotional moment. “It was very emotional,” she recalls. “There was also a moment of almost overwhelming excitement when I first saw the space.” She remembers wishing she could have stayed longer in the city, watching how the pieces inhabited the museum as the light changed through the day.

“Being here has reinforced my belief that objects can exist beyond their time and place of origin and that there are universal gestures and forms that connect us across cultures and generations. I think I will carry this feeling of continuity, curiosity and openness into my future work." - Alana Burns 

Returning to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the second edition of Formed By Dialogue brings international designers into conversation with Egypt’s timeless heritage, exploring how ideas, identities, and traditions evolve through exchange and dialogue.