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The third edition ofForever is Now', an ambitious art exhibition on Egypt's Giza Plateau, brings together a series of large-scale sculptures and installations by 14 contemporary artists from around the world that converse with the monumental Pyramids of Giza and the cultural heritage of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Curated by the Contemporary Arts Platform CulturVator – Art D'Égypte, this year's series, the largest to date, shows the interconnectedness of our past and present by exploring the connections between land, traditions, spirituality and technology. Different in concept, form and materials, all the works of art share an interactive element, inviting visitors to actively engage with them, offering new ways to experience the iconic monuments in the background. On view until November 18, 2023, the extensive exhibition highlights the importance of cultural exchange between artists and the enduring ability of ancient Egypt's cultural heritage to inspire both the artistic and public imagination, as noted by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar as founder of Art D'Égypte, while seeking to find stable values in an era of rapid technological and cultural change.
Unsurprisingly, a number of artists have drawn inspiration from the iconic architecture of the Pyramids of Giza, most prominently the Saudi artist Rashed Al Shashai whose "Translucent Pyramid" competes with the three ancient monuments for attention. Made from wicker baskets, the site-specific installation pays homage to the ancient art of Egyptian weaving, highlighting the importance of preserving traditional techniques while promoting innovation and creativity.
Egyptian artist Mohamed's 10m tall installation Banawy, “As Above, So Below (Dome of Starry Sky)”, is also pyramid-shaped, though only when viewed head-on. Made from a matrix of star-shaped sculptures mounted on bars, the piece refers to the second verse of Emerald Tablet , a cryptic Hermetic text said to have been written by the Egyptian god Thoth. The name of the artwork also refers to the basic laws of balance and harmony that according to ancient Egyptian cosmic philosophy ensure that the world is not consumed by chaos and darkness.
Less grandiose in design, but just as powerful in inspiring contemplation, is his 'TEMPLE •I•' French artist Stephan Breuer, a floating golden triangle of pure light that allows visitors to pause and reflect on both the outer world and their inner self. . Conceived as a 'divine apparition', the piece is an ethereal symbol of the spiritual energy of the archaeological site.
The work "Treasures" by the UAE artist Azza Al Qubaisi it combines the geometric volumes of the pyramid with the organic shapes of the surrounding sand dunes in a maze-like installation that visitors can walk through. Made of mild steel and stainless steel sheets, the artist's earth-toned metal landscape juxtaposes the mysteries of the desert landscape with the cultural memories, stories and motifs represented by ancient monuments.
A pyramid can also be found on the Argentinian artist's 'Mirror Gate' Pilar Zeta, a sculptural portal inspired by ancient Egyptian mysticism. Combining natural and man-made materials, the ritual artwork, described by the artist as "an interdimensional portal between time and space," is an eclectic composition of symbolic elements, including a checkerboard path representing duality, iridescent blue spheres representing the sacred beetle, symbol of rebirth and rebirth, and a mirror egg symbolizing limitless possibilities and self-exploration.
Equally mysterious is the installation "Reality is Timeless" by the Bahraini artist, Rashid Al Khalifa , a cluster of towering rectilinear volumes emerging from the ground at various angles. Made of perforated copper and brass panels, the pieces are covered in elaborate geometric patterns taken from Jesuit scholar Anthanasius Kircher's 17th-century book Turris Babel, in which he presents diagrams of an ancient Egyptian labyrinth. Highly futuristic in its design, yet imbued with ancient mythological references, the installation plays with notions of timelessness by inviting visitors into a setting where past, present and future come together.
The Brazilian artist Artur Lescher explores the relationship between humans and their place in the universe with 'Observatory Meta Oiko', a prismatic sculpture created from reflective and translucent surfaces that invites visitors to view the panorama of the pyramids from a different perspective.
Similarly to Pilar Zeta's 'Gate of Mirrors', the Egyptian-British sculptor's 'Temple of Ghosts' Sam Shendi it also takes the form of a mysterious portal, this time inspired by ancient Egyptian temples. Constructed of steel rods painted a vivid red, the eerie, skeletal temple depicts the lasting impact of ancient structures long gone, showing how easy it is to shape them in our imaginations and therefore feel their energy.
More than four meters high, the enchanting sculpture of the Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis pays homage to the sundial believed to have been originally invented by the Egyptians – the earliest known sundial was made in Egypt in 1500 BC. Named after the Egyptian sun god, “RA”, the artwork is made of laminated solar glass whose red and yellow hues produce an ever-changing imprint of light as the day progresses, while harnessing the sun's energy so that it can continue to light up after dusk.
Another ancient Egyptian deity that makes an appearance is Hathor, courtesy of the American artist Carole Feuerman, whose bronze sculpture of the goddess takes the dynamic form of a modern woman. Hathor is associated with water and fertility, and Feuerman strives to capture the graceful fluidity reminiscent of water.
The acclaimed Greek artist Kostas Varotsos eschews Egyptian mythology by focusing on the relationship between the Nile River and the Giza Plateau. His installation "Horizon" consists of eight joined metal rings, a nod to the firmament and the cycle of life, which have been half-filled with thin layers of glass, the artist's signature technique. Set against the desert landscape, the glass textures give the impression of water, delineating an illusory horizon that joins the Pyramids with the Nile River.
The symbolic resonance of the circle is also found in Belgian artist Arne Quinze his circular sculpture "Aurora". Strategically framing aspects of one of the Pyramids, the metal sculpture acts as a "time gate" that bridges, in the artist's words, "the gap between the past and the future.". Composed of abstract, organically shaped pieces of aluminum crushed together to form a giant ring, the artwork explores the strength and fragility of nature.
To the Greek artist Dionysius "Meditation on Light", the Egyptian sun god converses with Apollo, the Greek sun god. Constructed with the help of artificial intelligence, the installation takes the form of a relief carpet whose abstract markings, made of a myriad of gilded brass leaves on linen, trace the path of the sun from dusk to dawn. Invited to step on the golden carpet, guests are immersed in a setting of sparkling light.
Finally, the French artist JR created a huge tapestry of black and white portraits taken from his participation in the second edition of Forever is Now in 2022, when visitors were invited to enter an interactive pyramid-shaped photo booth to have their portrait taken. This year's participation by the artist sees 130 of these large-scale portraits, which last year were exhibited individually in front of the Great Pyramid as ephemeral personal statements, forming a complex 20-meter-long artwork that promotes a shared dialogue with the UNESCO world heritage site.
*Cover photo: “Treasures” by Azza Al Qubaisi. Installation view, “Forever Is Now III”, Art D'Egypte. © Kollectiv
Of Eric David
Source: yatzer