The Pyramids of Giza are to serve as the backdrop for a new exhibition reflecting on ancient Egypt’s enduring influence on artists. In what is billed as the first event of its kind at the 4,500-year-old Unesco World Heritage Site, Forever is Now (23 October 2021-mid-November 2021) will show works by Egyptian and international artists along a trail around the Giza plateau.
“This exhibition is a token of hope for humanity and a humble tribute to a civilisation that stands the test of time,” says Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, the founder of Art D’Egypte, a company that aims to promote Egyptian art with annual exhibitions at historic sites.
Abdel Ghaffar is selecting the artists together with Simon Watson, an independent curator and consultant, while the renowned Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass will advise on the exhibition route. The initiative is backed by Egypt’s national commission for Unesco and the Egyptian ministry of tourism and antiquities. A community programme will include free Unesco-led public lectures and opportunities for local young people to volunteer as exhibition guides.
Meanwhile, the long-delayed opening of the nearby Grand Egyptian Museum has been postponed to at least mid-2021. In a CNN documentary last month, Major General Atef Moftah—the head of the vast $1bn project—promised the building would be completed by the end of this year.
