Forever Is Now, the first and only exhibition of contemporary art at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, and its surrounding plateau, was launched in 2021 by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar.
The exhibition aims to showcase the enduring legacy of one of humanity’s most fascinating and mysterious structures by bringing together artists worldwide.
Through their unique perspectives and creative practices, Forever is Now aims to trace the continuity of themes that have persisted from ancient times to the present day while paying tribute to the ingenuity and creativity of human civilization.
“Thisyear’ss edition of Forever Now centers around the concept of” play,” transforming the Giza Plateau into a fate, chance, and experimentation space. Interactive sculptural artworks invite viewers to engage with each installation actively, becoming creators of their own experience and altering the outcome of each work. Visitors to Forever is Now 03 can blur the line between artist and viewer in a playground of possibilities.” This year’s edition of Forever Now centers around the concept of “play,” transforming the Giza Plateau into a space of fate, chance, and experimentation. Interactive sculptural artworks invite viewers to engage with each installation actively, becoming creators of their own experience and altering the outcome of each work. Visitors to Forever is Now 03 can blur the line between artist and viewer in a playground of possibilities.
Some of the exhibition’s highlights include the Lupine sculpture by Belgian artist Arne Quinze, providing a unique viewpoint into an isolated vista of one of the Pyramids and its invisible axis lines. Greek artist Dionysios’s geometrical installation is based on artificial intelligence’s instructions to imagine different prayers on light. American artist Carole Feureman’s hyperrealist sculpture evokes Hathor, the ancient Egyptian goddess of love and fertility.
Bahraini artist Rashid Al Khalifa’s fragments of a labyrinth, emerging from the ground at varying angles, each inscribed with motifs sourced from a 1679 work, Turris Babel (The Tower of Babel), written by Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher, and Argentinian artist Pilar Zeta’s limestone portal sitting amidst gold and blue spherical objects, which is a checkerboard pathway and a mirrored egg, among others.
Other participating artists include Artur Lescher (Brazil), Azza Al Quibaisi (UAE), Costas Varotsos (Greece), JR (France), Mohamed Banawy (Egypt), Rashed Al Shaishai (Saudi Arabia), Sabine Marcelis (The Netherlands), Sam Shendi (Egypt and UK) and Stephan Breuer (France). Since 2021, Art D’Egypte by Culturvator has mounted its annual flagship exhibition of contemporary art with Forever is Now at the Pyramids of Giza. According to Ghaffar, the show strives to create a dialogue between contemporary art, ancient heritage, and the past and present.
Last year, it celebrated the success of Forever is Now 02, featuring 12 artists from around the world. Art D’Egypte was invited to participate in Abu Dhabi Art 2019 and ArtGeneve 2020.
