Forever Is Now

The fourth edition of Forever Is Now, Egypt’s landmark contemporary art exhibition, returns to the Giza Pyramids from October 24th to November 16th, 2024. Under the auspices of Egypt’s Ministry of Culture and the patronage of UNESCO, the exhibition brings together twelve global artists who transform the iconic plateau into a canvas for cross-cultural artistic exploration. Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, the exhibition’s curator, describes this year’s theme as an invitation for artists and viewers to become archaeologists of the present, using art to unearth new meanings in both ancient and modern contexts.

Each artwork reflects unique cultural perspectives and mediums, creating a fusion between the past and contemporary innovation. South Korean artist Ik-Joong Kang presents intricate mosaics that evoke collective memory, connecting past and present in subtle, poignant ways. Egyptian-American designer Hassan Ragab incorporates AI technology to explore how digital forms reshape creative expression, offering an alternative lens to traditional visual art. Saudi artist Daniah Al Saleh, meanwhile, uses machine learning and video art to evoke nostalgia for Egypt’s golden era of cinema, examining cinema’s cultural impact and its shaping of social narratives.

In Forever Is Now II at Giza, artist JR transforms visitors’ portraits into striking, large-scale posters with the iconic Pyramids as their backdrop. Printed from a pyramidal photo booth, each black-and-white portrait floats down from five meters in the air, landing in the hands of an attendant before visitors paste them onto one of three billboards. With each poster, participants make a unique, personal mark on the ancient landscape, offering a fresh perspective on the lasting allure of the historic site.

Other artists focus on the relationship between natural and artificial landscapes, such as Luca Boffi’s installation, which uses optical grids to explore urban and natural intersections. Italian artist Federica Di Carlo presents a cosmic-inspired work that symbolizes the unseen energies of life, merging scientific and mystical themes. Additionally, UK-based Chris Levine’s light art, inspired by the geometry of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, invites a contemplative moment, bridging the Giza Plateau’s cosmic past with a modern sense of harmony.

Nadine Abdel Ghaffar emphasizes that Forever Is Now.04 aims to foster a deeper, interactive experience, encouraging visitors to actively engage with the works and explore their personal connections to history and place. With its blend of ancient landscapes and avant-garde artistic expressions, the exhibition celebrates a dialogue between cultures, generations, and mediums, offering visitors a transformative journey through time and memory.