The Pyramids of Giza, standing resolute for over 4,500 years, once again play host to the world of contemporary art with the fourth edition of Forever is Now, the visionary outdoor exhibition that brings modern works into a dialogue with ancient splendor. Curated by Art D’Egypte (Instagram), now under the expansive platform CulturVator, this year’s event presents a lineup of international artists whose creations explore humanity’s past, present, and future connections.
Forever is Now has become an annual highlight in the art world’s calendar, blending breathtaking desert landscapes and some of the world’s most ancient structures with boundary-pushing, contemporary creations. Open through November 16, the exhibition features artists from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East—each selected for their unique interpretations of heritage, identity, and the intersection of ancient and modern life.
This year’s installations, like the sleek bronze panthers of Egyptian sculptor Khaled Zaki’s The Race, bring an otherworldly elegance to the sands of Giza. Italian artist Federica Di Carlo’s I See, I See—a circular, eye-shaped structure that mirrors the mystical quality of the site—seems to watch over the pyramids, evoking the ancient Egyptian belief in protective deities. Each piece in this open-air exhibition engages the landscape in a way that asks viewers to reconsider the space, moving between the physical reality of the pyramids and the imaginative journeys the artworks evoke.
Korean-born artist Ik Joong Kang’s Four Temples, a collection of walls covered in colorful, childlike drawings, pays homage to humanity’s universal struggles and dreams. Inspired by stories of displaced communities and refugees, his installation merges international perspectives with Egyptian architectural symbols. Adorned with the words of “Arirang,” a Korean folk song sung in multiple languages, Four Temples connects past conflicts with today’s hopes for peace and unity. Meanwhile, Vancouver-based Lebanese-Egyptian artist Marie Khouri’s I Love is an homage to the Arabic alphabet, bending calligraphy into graceful, flowing forms that evoke unity and compassion. Khouri’s process, an intricate hand-molding technique, represents her dedication to bridging cultures through art, one curve at a time.
The theme of this year’s Forever is Now revolves around excavation—both literal and metaphorical. The works on display dig into layers of human experience, transforming the exhibition into an emotional and intellectual journey. Jean-Marie Appriou’s Vessel of Time, a haunting figure of a man in a small boat, echoes the timeless journey of the soul, as if a fragment of Egyptian lore brought to life. Appriou’s piece speaks to both the spiritual and physical voyages humans have taken for millennia. Greek artist Nassia Inglessis’s Liquid Solid resonates with the iconic pyramid forms, but unlike the timeless stability of the pyramids, her geometric shapes appear fluid, capturing the evolving nature of history itself.
Art D’Egypte’s founder, Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, has grown the exhibition into a global event that not only celebrates Egypt’s past but also shines a light on international artistry. “This year’s Forever is Now brings a new vision to Egypt’s artistic and cultural landscape, building dialogues that transcend time and space,” Ghaffar explains. Her organization, CulturVator, now stretches beyond Egyptian borders, fostering collaborations that weave new layers into Egypt’s legacy.
True to its mission, Forever is Now actively involves local communities, from artisans to students, inviting them to participate and learn through free workshops, lectures, and community programs. This engagement highlights the event’s broader purpose: to preserve and share Egypt’s heritage through contemporary art. By involving these local voices, the exhibition deepens its impact, allowing the experience of art to become accessible to those who have grown up in the shadow of the pyramids themselves.
In the shadow of the Pyramids of Giza, where history and mythology converge, Forever is Now transforms an ancient wonder into an open-air gallery where each artwork breathes life into forgotten tales and reinterprets them for a modern audience.
For more stories of art and culture from around the world, visit our dedicated archives.
