Forever Is Now 0.4: Timeless Art Meets Ancient Wonder at Giza

Forever Is Now 0.4 an immersive fusion of contemporary art and history unfolds as international artists reinterpret Egypt’s iconic Giza Pyramids. By Nikitha Sunil Vallikad

The Giza Pyramids, iconic symbols of civilisation, serve as the backdrop for the fourth edition of ‘Forever Is Now’, featuring 12 artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. This exhibition fosters a unique dialogue between ancient and modern worlds, supported by UNESCO and Egypt’s Ministries of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities.

“The exhibition is organized and curated by “CulturVator – Art D’Egypte” under the auspices of the Ministries of Tourism and Antiquities, Foreign Affairs, Culture, and the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO,” says Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, founder of CulturVator.

Curated with an emphasis on history’s influence on the present, the theme portrays artists as modern archaeologists. Each artwork encourages viewers to explore fragments of the past through creativity, utilising unconventional materials to reveal hidden meanings.

Nadine Abdel Ghaffar states, “‘Forever Is Now’ brings the world together without borders under the Pyramids. It’s a message of hope for humanity, celebrating the legacy of ancient Egyptian civilization.”

For the first time, the exhibition incorporates parallel AI-driven projects, merging traditional and digital art. Artists from the UK, Italy, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, and Egypt address themes of memory, identity, and transformation, inviting audiences to engage with the shared human experience. Ultimately, ‘Forever Is Now.04’ reflects humanity’s quest to understand the past while continuously reshaping the future.

Let’s take a look into some of the work exhibited at Forever Is Now 0.4.

Sacred Geometry Reimagined

Chris Levine’s ‘Quadrivium’

In ‘Quadrivium’, British artist Chris Levine merges mathematics and spirituality, drawing inspiration from the Great Pyramid of Khufu. This sculpture—crafted from limestone, granite, stainless steel, dichroic glass, copper, and crystal—reflects the ancient study of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and sound, key to understanding the cosmos. Two dichroic glass discs and a copper disc, symbolising Earth and Moon diameters, refract sunlight into shifting elliptical shadows, embodying celestial harmony.

Anchored by a steel pole, the discs interact with the sun’s rays to create dynamic patterns, grounding the piece in ancient themes. Locally sourced granite and limestone root ‘Quadrivium’ in the materials of the pyramids, while a crystallised water sphere and copper coil evoke spiritual energy, bridging physical and ethereal worlds. Levine’s work honours Egypt’s legacy of sacred geometry, inviting viewers to explore universal truths encoded within the Giza Plateau’s timeless wisdom.

Illuminating Ancient Mythology

Federica Di Carlo’s ‘I See, I See’

Federica Di Carlo’s ‘I See, I See’ installation brings together sunlight, mythology, and ritual, inspired by Egypt’s Sun God, Ra, from whose tears humanity was born. This steel structure, formed as a giant Eye of Horus, is composed of thousands of graduated optical lenses and is positioned between the viewer and the Giza Pyramids. Gazing through the structure, visitors encounter an inverted landscape, creating an unexpected, dreamlike perspective.

At sunrise and sunset, the installation transforms into a ritualistic device, capturing and refracting the desert light in each lens, symbolizing the ancient Egyptian ritual of honouring the sun’s dual forms. Di Carlo’s work offers a poignant fusion of nature, myth, and vision, reconnecting modern viewers with the spiritual reverence ancient Egyptians held for the celestial forces.

Bridging Divides

Ik-Joong Kang’s ‘Four Temples’

Ik-Joong Kang’s ‘Four Temples’ unites past and future, blending Egyptian architectural themes with universal hopes for peace. Inspired by Egyptian temples, this mixed-media installation consists of four structures symbolising harmony, despite worldly divisions. The outer walls display the Korean folk song “Arirang” written in Hangeul, English, Arabic, and hieroglyphs, symbolising the universal role of language in connecting people across time.

Inside, drawings by children and individuals from diverse backgrounds, especially those facing social and political hardships, reflect dreams and resilience, offering a sense of shared healing. In an interactive element, visitors can dig in the sand to unearth bookmarks inscribed with “love” and “peace” in multiple languages, symbolising unity.

Through this participatory artwork, Kang emphasises connectivity and empathy, bridging not only cultural divides but also generations, grounding the viewer in a message of hope and collective understanding.

The Power of Progress

Khaled Zaki’s ‘The Race’

Khaled Zaki’s ‘The Race’ reimagines an ancient chariot scene, casting viewers into a dynamic interplay of movement and stillness. This stainless-steel installation features two racing horses and six scattered wheels, evoking ancient Egyptian chariots yet freed from their historical function. Zaki’s creation symbolises human ingenuity, reflecting humanity’s ongoing journey—spanning maritime exploration, aviation, and beyond—driven by the pursuit of progress.

Set in an excavation site, the dismantled chariot and gleaming wheels represent the fragmented yet enduring legacy of technological advancement, hinting at shifting power dynamics. For Zaki, ‘The Race’ bridges the ancient with the modern, presenting technology as both a product and predecessor of its creators. As a statement on humanity’s drive to explore, this work mirrors the artefacts of our own time, reflecting our search for new knowledge and tools in our shared human journey.

 I Love

A Message of Unity and Peace by Marie Khouri

Marie Khouri’s ‘I Love’ brings a message of peace and unity to the ancient grounds of the Pyramids of Giza, connecting her Egyptian heritage with her international journey as an artist. Originally displayed at the Vancouver Art Gallery, this installation captivated audiences with its arabesque forms that evolved from clay, carved and scaled up into a monumental polyurea and fibreglass structure.

The flowing shapes reveal Arabic letters spelling “I Love,” creating a universal message that transcends language and borders. ‘ Love’ serves as a bridge between cultures and histories, offering homage to Egypt’s contributions to art and civilisation. Through her meticulous, hands-on approach, Khouri breathes life into her work, transforming traditional forms into a contemporary testament to love’s enduring power.

 ‘Liquid Solid’

Studio Ini in a Dialogue Between Past and Future

Studio INI’s Nassia Inglessis explores the timeless nature of transformation by sculpting an installation that evokes both solidity and fluidity. This 10-meter sand, glass, and aluminium structure resonates with the dynamic elements of Egypt’s desert, embodying ancient Egyptian insights into the balance between nature and technology.

Inspired by the Ancient Egyptians’ mastery of moving monumental stone through sand and water, Inglessis merges desert materials with modern composites, like aluminium honeycomb, echoing NASA’s advancements. Her work channels an elemental harmony, transcending time by uniting the human, technological, and natural worlds. ‘Liquid Solid’ invites visitors to reimagine permanence and impermanence, underscoring the adaptability and resilience that define both ancient and modern pursuits. Inglessis envisions a future monument that moves beyond solidity, reminding us that humanity’s legacy lies not only in lasting structures but in our capacity to adapt and resonate with the natural world.

 Padma

A Rebirth in Bloom by Shilo Shiv Suleman

In ‘Padma’, Shilo Shiv Suleman bridges ancient Egyptian and Indian symbolism with the lotus—a timeless emblem of creation and unity. Inspired by mythologies where the blue lotus represents the origins of the universe, this installation at the Pyramids of Giza brings to life a prophecy of renewed consciousness.

‘Padma’ features ten towering brass lotuses, crafted by Indian artisans, each linked to pulse sensors that reflect visitors’ heartbeats. This immersive experience invites viewers to harmonise their pulses with others, echoing Suleman’s previous biofeedback work, ‘Pulse & Bloom’ from Burning Man. As the first Indian artist to present at Giza, Suleman explores the collective heartbeat, revealing how shared rhythms can foster deep connections. In ‘Padma’, the lotus re-emerges as a symbol of purity, resilience, and shared human experience, inspiring a new consciousness that transcends time and geography.

Exodus

An Imaginary Archaeology of Migration by Xavier Mascaro

Xavier Mascaró’s ‘Exodus’ captures the timeless journey of migration through 26 sculptural boats of bronze, iron, and cloth. Inspired by ancient ritual boats, particularly Egyptian funerary vessels that symbolized crossing into the afterlife, Mascaró’s work reflects humanity’s perpetual movement—migration, change, and the transient nature of existence. The boats range from intimate sizes to monumental vessels, symbolizing both individual and collective voyages through time.

The installation serves as both homage to ancient civilisations and a commentary on the ongoing human odyssey, inviting viewers to consider their place within a shared, migratory history.

 A Catalyst for Thought

Forever Is Now.04 transcends a typical exhibition, uniting ancient and modern worlds to celebrate humanity’s artistic legacy. Framed against the timeless Giza Pyramids, it invites reflection on how today’s art will echo through time. Each artwork resonates with Egypt’s spirit while showcasing diverse, contemporary perspectives. This fusion of past and present at Forever Is Now inspires visitors to explore cultural connections that span ages, reimagining their own heritage in light of ancient truths and future possibilities.