n n n ‘. concat(e. i18n. t(“search. voice. recognition_retry”),’n
On the plateau overlooking Egypt’s ancient pyramids of Giza, a first-of-its-kind outdoor art exhibition brings together the paintings of 14 new foreign artists who have created site-specific installations that respond to iconic monuments. In one project, a new wicker pyramid design emerges; In another, glass sculptures are reminiscent of ancient pyramids on water.
“Forever Is Now III” (Nov. 18) is the third edition of an annual exhibition held at the venue and the largest to date. Curated by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, founder and curator of Cairo-based art society Art D’Egypte, the occasion aims to celebrate the fresh creativity of ancient Egyptian culture.
“Every year we have an organization of artists interacting with this civilization,” Ghaffar said on a video call from Cairo. Art D’Égypte is collaborating with UNESCO to ensure that the exhibition leaves this 4,500-year-old World Heritage Site. Absolutely unharmed. (A 50cm layer of imported sand is used to place the artworks, so they don’t even touch the ground. )This year’s works address the fertile territory of concepts presented through the pyramids, from mythology and spirituality to technical innovation. and architecture.
Mexico City-based Argentinian artist Pilar Zeta created the “Mirror Door,” a limestone portal decorated with iridescent gold and blue spheres and topped with a pyramidal top, below which is a checkerboard-shaped path leading to an egg reflected on a pedestal. “I’ve been fascinated by the pyramids of Giza and all the ancient Egyptian culture: the mysticism that surrounds them, the enigmas,” Zeta said. “The pyramids are, in my opinion, the most sacred sculptures on planet Earth. “
Zeta’s installation, which looks like a surrealist painting and a postmodernist film, has layered meanings. The portal represents connections through time, the iridescent blue refers to the scarab beetle symbolizing rebirth and regeneration, and the reflected egg represents the cosmic egg of Egyptian mythology denoting creation. The artist’s use of fabrics aims to fuse the ancient and the modern, with vegetal limestone reflecting the structure of the pyramids and painted steel that nods to “our post-industrial society. “
The symbolic use of curtains was also vital for Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis, who followed glass for her sculpture “RA,” a sundial design named after the ancient Egyptian sun god. “Since Egypt is the birthplace of the sundial and glass as a curtain, I wanted to pay homage to those inventions,” Marcelis explained via email. “Even the pyramids themselves were a kind of sundial. “
While during the day the large rectilinear sculpture casts moving shadows on the sand, at night a special generation incorporated into the glass transforms the installation into a soft fountain. “There are solar cells sandwiched between the glass that harness the power of the sun to power a battery. “This means that art can exist as an absolutely off-grid installation and force its own appeasement at night. “
Glass also plays a key role in Greek sculptor Costas Varotsos’ “Horizon,” a series of half-glass-filled steel circles in line. By giving the impression that the pyramids rest on water, the paintings emphasize the dating between the monuments. and the Nile on the horizon.
Saudi artist Rashed Al-Shashai’s “Translucent Pyramid” adds a new 6-meter-tall pyramid to the board. Constructed from wicker boxes, the paintings reference the classical art of wicker weaving in Egypt and advocate for sustainable and heritage practices for fresh design.
Another architectural installation, “The Ghost Temple,” designed by Egyptian-born British sculptor Sam Shendi. Created from geometric shapes in red steel, the painting imagines the remains of an ancient temple. It looks like a portal for walking and celebrates the arte. de architecture and geometry that made the pyramids possible.
“Treasures,” a metal sculpture by Emirati jeweler artist Azza Al Qubaisi, also invites you to walk through it. Its undulating, undulating shape is stimulated by the patterns of the surrounding desert landscape, leading to a central pyramidal structure, topped by a golden peak. .
Rashid Al Khalifa, an artist and member of Bahrain’s royal family, created “Reality is Timeless,” a series of copper and brass structures that emerge from the ground from other angles. Designed as likely archaeological fragments of a labyrinth, it is decorated with perforated patterns. Taken from ancient diagrams of the ancient Egyptian labyrinth.
Meanwhile, French photographer JR’s “Inside Out Giza” continues a commission he presented at the 2022 edition of Forever is Now. Having installed a photo booth in the past that allowed visitors to take photos of themselves, this year JR presents a variety of those large-format black-and-white portraits, placed on the level in front of the pyramids.
Reflecting on the exhibition, Ghaffar, the curator, explained that she sees the ancient pyramid as “a beacon of hope for humanity. “It’s “weathered a lot,” he said, from wars to pandemics, “and it’s still here, and it still has secrets, so there’s hope. “That hope, he added, wants to be shared with everyone, and that is precisely what this exclusive art exhibition is all about.
For more CNN and letters, create an account on CNN. com