"Forever is Now": Art in the Egyptian desert

A premiere after 4,500 years: in autumn 2021, Egypt hosted its first art exhibition against the backdrop of the Giza Pyramids. Various artists created large installations in the desert sand. By Nele Jensch

  • An installation entitled Eternity Now by American artist Gisela Colon seen near the Sphinx and the pyramids on the Giza Plateau, near Cairo, Egypt on October 25, 2021
    Golden memory: last autumn, for the first time ever, an art exhibition was organised in front of the 4,500-year-old Giza Pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The work "Eternity Now" by American artist Gisela Colon was displayed next to the Sphinx: a 9-metre elliptical dome paid tribute to the historical legacy of ancient Egypt – as did the entire "Forever is Now" exhibition
  • Visitors view an art installation in front of the pyramids at Giza, Egypt on 25 October 2021
    Merging ancient heritage and contemporary art: the exhibition was organised by Art D'Egypte, a firm that aims to promote Egyptian art through exhibitions at historical sites. "The exhibition represents a fusion of ancient heritage and contemporary art," Art d'Egypte said in a statement. "We wanted to show the connection between our history and our present, which will last forever"
  • A view of the installation during the "Forever Is Now" exhibition at the Giza Pyramids, in Cairo, Egypt on 23 October 2021
    Inspired by sun barques: the installation "Bazarkh" by Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr, on the right of the photo above, is inspired by the sun barques – vessels that in ancient Egypt were supposed to transport the soul of a deceased pharaoh safely to the realm of the dead
  • An installation seen facing the pyramids on the Giza plateau, near Cairo, Egypt on 25 October 2021
    Floating pyramid tip: French street artist Jean Rene, better known as JR, plays with perceptions. His work "Greetings From Giza" creates the illusion of a floating pyramid tip
  • Installation facing the pyramids on the Giza plateau on 23 October 2021
    Tribute to Egyptian women: Los Angeles-based Egyptian artist Sherin Guirguis stands in front of her work, "Here I Have Returned". It is a tribute to the women who have supported and enriched Egyptian culture and society over time. The shape of the sculpture is inspired by the sistrum, a kind of framed rattle used by women belonging to the cult of Isis in ancient Egypt
  • A view of the installation during the "Forever Is Now" exhibition at the Giza Pyramids, in Cairo, Egypt on 23 October 2021
    Circle of life: Alexander Ponomarev's artwork "Ouroboros" is made of steel, ceramic and glass. It depicts a variation of the ancient Greek image of a snake biting its own tail – a symbol for the circle of life
  • Ai-Da Robot, the world's first ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist at the great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
    Robot behind bars: nor only can the robot woman Ai-Da talk, she can also paint, draw and even create installations. Her road to the exhibition was not without a hitch, however. When she entered the country, Ai-Da was "arrested" – the Egyptian security authorities thought she was a spying device. After efforts by the British Embassy, Ai-Da was finally released after 10 days
  • An installation on display at the Great Pyramids of Egypt on 25 October 2021
    Upcycling: railway sleepers become art. The sculpture "Body That Rises" by Brazilian artist Joao Trevisan is somewhat reminiscent of an oversized Jenga game. Seven metres tall, it is composed of old Egyptian railway sleepers that were laid in the 19th century – Trevisan's aim was to incorporate Egypt's immediate past into his work
  • Italian artists pose under their installation facing the pyramids on the Giza plateau on 23 October 2021
    An historic event: Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn stands with his wife, Giovanna, under their sculpture "Together". "The reason I chose to create this work for this site is to honour the fact that society always works better and can surpass any obstacle when it works together," Quinn told reporters. He called the exhibition "an historic event"