In brief
From the iconic pyramids, the sixth edition of the Forever Is Now exhibition brings worldwide contemporary art onto the Giza Desert. Directors at Art D'Égypte highlight new instances of cross‑cultural dialogue, while artists such as Jiang Qiong Er, Seckin Pirim and Emad Abu Grain embed modern themes amid ancient stone. The event underscores shared values as Egypt and China celebrate 70 years of diplomatic ties.
On Sunday, Cairo’s Giza Plateau became an open‑air gallery for the sixth edition of the international contemporary art show Forever Is Now, opening on November 8 and running through November 28, according to Xinhua. Creatively curated by the Egyptian arts collective Art D’Égypte, the exhibit invites visitors to explore time, cultural memory, and the pyramids’ enduring influence in steel, stone and vibrant colors.
The exhibition features artists from across the globe, including French‑Chinese painter Jiang Qiong Er, Turkish sculptor Seckin Pirim, and Egyptian visual artist Emad Abu Grain. Jiang’s work, “It Is Time to Plant Love,” consists of twelve stainless‑steel and fiberglass strength figures that echo shared values such as peace and equality.
Jiang told Xinhua: At a time when most artists are striving to find differences, I am truly seeking common ground. Jiang said her participation marks a special moment, as Egypt and China celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations, and that art can "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."
Seckin Pirim explores past and present in his installation, The King’s Road, featuring limestone columns that simultaneously call back to ancient ruins and present contemporary forms. He explained that he envisioned the piece as a gate that opens from the present toward the pyramids.
Emad Abu Grain’s Talisman of Salvation, using six carved stone blocks and rope, draws on ancient Egyptian motifs while presenting a modern narrative. The exhibition, open to all, continues to attract school and university groups each year, underscoring Art D’Égypte’s belief that art should not be limited to collectors.
