Student Artists Reimagine Ancient Egypt Through Virtual Reality

South Florida PBS is pleased to highlight work by talented student artists from the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts at Nova Southeastern University.

For the Egyptian Pharaohs: From Cheops to Ramses II exhibition, South Florida PBS commissioned four original virtual reality art experiences that transport guests into immersive, fantastical worlds inspired by Ancient Egypt. Using VR technology, these artists explore ancient history, mythology, and belief systems through contemporary creative expression.

Together, these works reflect South Florida PBS’s commitment to education, innovation, and supporting emerging artists, while offering visitors new ways to engage with one of history’s most enduring civilizations.

The Artists & Their Creations

Ancient Temple of Wisdom

Alivia Klipp, Student

This immersive experience introduces Ancient Egypt through the symbolic language of hieroglyphics. Images such as the cat, beetle, ibis, eye, and ankh reveal how meaning, belief, and knowledge were communicated visually.

Inspired by Ancient Egyptian artworks studied at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the environment recreates the atmosphere of a sacred temple. Stone textures, overgrown vines, and torchlight place visitors inside a reimagined space of learning and reflection.

Aquaculture Along the Nile

Jesse Caruana Snachkus, Student

Ancient Egypt was one of the earliest civilizations to practice aquaculture along the Nile River. Egyptians cultivated fish such as tilapia, Nile perch, and catfish using ponds and controlled water channels.

These species were vital to daily life and religious practice, providing a sustainable source of food that supported population growth and long-term stability across the civilization.

Star-Lit Rest

Raul Perez, Student

Inspired by Senenmut’s unfinished tomb, this virtual reality experience reimagines a celestial resting place filled with constellations.

In Ancient Egyptian belief, burial marked the beginning of the journey into the afterlife. Star-Lit Rest invites visitors into a serene, star-filled space reflecting eternity, rebirth, and the connection between the heavens and the soul.

Between Life and Afterlife: Vaporwave Lounge
Kolos Schumy, Assistant Professor
 

This virtual experience explores the journey through the Duat, the Egyptian underworld, guided by spells from the Book of the Dead. In ancient belief, pharaohs were judged as their hearts were weighed against the feather of Ma’at, goddess of truth and balance.

Blending Egyptian architecture with a vaporwave-inspired aesthetic, the work reflects the vivid colors once found on temples and tombs, reinterpreted through a modern, dreamlike lens that connects past and present.

Through these four VR experiences, South Florida PBS celebrates student creativity while expanding how audiences experience history, blending ancient storytelling with immersive technology.