Past Meets Present in Monumental Exhibition at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are currently hosting a series of new art installations as part of a group exhibition entitled Forever is Now. Curated by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, who helms the Cairo-based Art D’Égypte, the third edition of the exhibition comprises of 14 international artists who bridge a dialogue between Egypt’s ancient past and pertinent topics, including artificial intelligence and renewable energy, as well as celebrating the nation’s contemporary art scene.

Free to the public, the outdoor exhibition contains many installations whose material comes charged with meaning. For Sabine Marcelis, the Dutch artist chose to create a rectilinear glass sculpture dubbed RA, which takes its name from the sun god RA, as well as alluding to Egypt as the birthplace of the sundial and the fact that solar glass can be used to harness energy.

Revisiting last year’s Forever is Now exhibition, French artist JR presents oversized portraits he took of citizens of the surrounding area as a way to bring the focus on the many people who call Egypt home today. Egyptian-British sculptor Sam Shendi created a geometric steel Ghost Temple that uses art as a way to envision how the ancient Egyptians first built the pyramids; while Horizon — a series of half-filled circular sculptures by Greek artist Costas Varotsos — makes it appear as if the pyramids are hovering over water.

In a past interview, Ghaffar hopes the exhibition is “a token of hope to humanity,” adding that the monuments have withstood so many things, such as the collapse of empires, global pandemics, “and it’s still there, and still has secrets.” Forever is Now is on view until November 18.

In case you missed it, Anna Boghiguian’s monumental Chess Game installation is on view in Toronto.

The Great Pyramids of Giza
Al Haram, Nazlet El-Semman
Al Giza Desert, Giza Governorate 3512201, Egypt