In brief
Cairo’s Giza Plateau became a stage for the sixth edition of the ‘Forever Is Now’ exhibition on Nov. 8, drawing contemporary artists worldwide onto the historic landscape. Chinese‑French artist Jiang Qiong Er’s 12‑figure stainless steel installation and Turkish sculptor Seckin Pirim’s limestone ‘The King’s Road’ were highlighted, while Egyptian visual artist Emad Abu Grain also presented a work rooted in antiquity. The show aims to fuse Egypt’s 7,000‑year heritage with modern art, fostering cross‑cultural dialogue.
On Sunday, November 8, the Giza Plateau became an open‑air gallery for the sixth edition of the international contemporary art exhibition ‘Forever Is Now’, drawing artists from across the globe onto the desert landscape near the pyramids.
The event, organized by Egyptian multidisciplinary arts firm Art D'Egypte, runs from Nov. 8 to 28 and invites visitors to explore the passage of time, cultural memory and the enduring influence of the pyramids in steel, stone and vivid colors.
Among the show’s many installations is “It Is Time to Plant Love” by French‑Chinese artist Jiang Qiong Er. The 12 gold‑colored guardian figures made of stainless steel and fiberglass symbolize shared values such as peace, freedom, equality and wisdom, according to Jiang.
At a time when most artists are striving to find differences, I am truly seeking common ground,
Jiang told Xinhua, adding that the installation carries special significance as Egypt and China celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. She said: “Art cannot resolve conflicts, but it can at least open a window, open a door, allowing us to engage in dialogue, to try to understand one another, and to walk together into our shared space.”
Founder of Art D'Egypte, Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, noted that Jiang’s participation marks the exhibition’s first collaboration with a Chinese artist. She added that the show offers a chance to showcase both ancient and modern Egypt, saying, “International visitors and media come to see not just our 7,000‑year‑old civilization, but also contemporary Egyptians.”
Piram, a Turkish sculptor, explored the relationship between past and present in his installation “The King’s Road.” The work features limestone columns that evoke ancient ruins yet reveal distinctly contemporary forms, and Pirim explained that he envisioned the piece as “a gate and a portal” opening from the present toward the pyramids.
Egyptian visual artist Emad Abu Grain displayed “Talisman of Salvation,” a piece featuring six carved stone blocks and rope that draws on ancient...
