Launched by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar in 2021, ‘Forever Is Now’ is the only exhibition of contemporary art to take place at the 4,500-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site of the Pyramids of Giza and its surrounding plateau in Egypt. The exhibition which runs from 26th October to 18th November 2023, aims to bring together artists from around world to reflect on the enduring legacy of one of humanity’s most compelling and mysterious structures. Through the lens of these artists’ interests and practices, ‘Forever is Now’ aims to trace the continuity of themes that stretch from our ancient past to present day whilst paying homage to the ingenuity and reflections of human civilisation and art.
The theme of this year’s edition is centred around the concept of ‘play’ and will see the Giza Plateau transformed into a space of serendipity, chance and experimentation featuring interactive sculptural artworks. “This year will be our most ambitious yet, with 14 participating artists – the biggest programme we will have staged to-date,” said Abdel Ghaffar, who is also Founder and Curator of Art D’Egypte by Culturvator. “The forthcoming edition, like previous iterations, will aim to continue to create unexpected and energising dialogues between humanity’s ancient past and its contemporary present – ultimately demonstrating the enduring influence of ancient Egypt’s cultural heritage and its ongoing ability to inspire both the artistic and public imagination in novel ways.”
Some of the highlights of the programme include Arne Quinze’s circular ‘Lupine’ sculpture, Dionysios’s geometrical installation, Carole Feuerman’s hyperrealist sculpture, Rashid Al Khalifa’s fragments of a labyrinth and Pilar Zeta’s limestone portal.
Complete list of participants:
Arne Quinze (Belgium)
Artur Lescher (Brazil)
Azza Al Qubaisi (UAE)
Carole Feuerman (USA)
Dionysios (Greece)
JR (France)
Mohamed Banawy (Egypt)
Pilar Zeta (Argentina)
Rashid Al Khalifa (Bahrain)
Rashed Al Shashai (Saudi Arabia)
Sabine Marcelis (The Netherlands)
Sam Shendi (Egypt & UK)
Stephan Breuer (France)
