The Pyramids of Giza, one of the world’s most iconic heritage sites, are once again hosting a remarkable fusion of ancient and modern art. This autumn, Egypt’s annual contemporary art exhibition has taken over the site with bold sculptures, installations, and paintings set against the backdrop of the 4,500-year-old pyramids.
The exhibition, titled *Forever is Now*, introduces visitors to a striking array of artworks, including a dismantled chariot formed into two metallic horses beside half-submerged wheels, and massive flowers sprouting from the desert sands. These installations aim to spark a dialogue between the past and present, bringing the pyramids into conversation with the art.
This year marks the first time that artists from Asia are participating in the exhibition. Art D’Égypte, the organization behind the event, describes the exhibition’s goal as turning both visitors and artists into “modern-day archaeologists,” using creativity to uncover hidden meanings in everyday life. The exhibition features works from 14 artists from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America, including sculptures, paintings, and site-specific installations.
One standout piece is *The Race* by Egyptian artist Khaled Zaki, which portrays a dismantled chariot and metallic horses. Zaki views the work as a reflection of personal responsibility. “When you face those horses, you see your image on them,” he says, noting that each individual plays a part in shaping the world around them.
Other significant works include *Vessel of Time* by Jean-Marie Appriou, a boat sculpture created on-site using Nile ochre clay, and *Four Temples* by South Korean artist Ik-Joong Kang. Kang’s work, which features the Korean folk song *Arirang* in multiple languages, including hieroglyphs, connects global cultures with the ancient site. Kang, known for incorporating children’s drawings into his art, collaborated with local schools in Egypt to create the interior designs of *Four Temples*.
Shilo Shiv Suleman, the first Indian artist to be featured in the exhibition, presents *Padma*, a series of 10 giant lotus flowers made from brass, iron, and silk. Standing as tall as 4.5 meters, the flowers are a nod to ancient Egyptian prophecies that predict a rebirth of consciousness, symbolized by the return of the blue lotus.
The exhibition, which is also aimed at boosting tourism in Egypt amid regional instability, has received support from the country’s ministries of culture and tourism. Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, curator of *Forever is Now* and founder of Art D’Égypte, explained that the pyramids provide a unique space for artistic dialogue between ancient and contemporary civilizations. “The backdrop of the pyramids allows for a conversation that merges the past with the present, depicting the true essence of artistic development,” she said.
The Forever is Now exhibition continues to transform the Giza plateau into an open-air gallery, where the ancient world meets the creativity of today’s artists.
Related topics: