In Depth: A Tour of 5th Forever Is Now Exhibition at the Giza Pyramids

The fifth edition of Forever Is Now, presented by Art D’Égypte, has officially opened at the Giza Pyramids, running from 11 November to 6 December.

The annual outdoor exhibition continues its mission of connecting contemporary art with Egypt’s rich cultural heritage, offering visitors an immersive experience at one of the most iconic historic sites in the world.

This year’s edition showcases nine monumental artworks installed directly in the desert surrounding the pyramids, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of memory, identity, civilization, and the dialogue between past and present.

The tour begins with “Doors of Cairo” by Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto (Vhils). The installation is composed of old doors collected from neighborhoods across Cairo—objects that have witnessed daily life, private histories, and personal stories. 

Removed from their original context and placed in the vast desert, the doors transcend their functional purpose to become gateways between eras. 

They stand as symbols of shared memory and collective urban experience, reminding viewers of the lives, emotions, and communities that shaped them.

The next installation, “Echoes of the Infinite” by Alex Proba and SolidNature, draws visual inspiration from ancient mythologies and Egyptian iconography. 

One of the sculptural forms reinterprets the Eye of Horus in a contemporary language, emphasizing the harmony between ancient cultural symbols and modern design. 

Proba, who was present at the unveiling, explained that the piece reflects the continuum between what civilizations once built and what today’s world continues to create, bridging time, creativity, and cultural memory.

The third work, “Null” by Recycle Group, is composed of human-like figures formed from plastic mesh, frozen in motion. 

The sculpture symbolizes the transition into a digital age where virtual spaces shape reality. 

The figures appear suspended in a network, representing humanity caught between physical presence and digital identity. 

he work acts as a commentary on modern existence, how technology transforms perception, communication, and the very essence of daily life.

The tour continues with “Desert Flowers” by Lebanese artist Nadim Karam. Three large flower-like sculptures rise from the sand, each constructed from reclaimed and reworked materials. 

Karam described the work as a meditation on destruction, rebuilding, and resilience, referencing Lebanon’s turbulent recent history. 

The flowers unfold in stages of blossoming, symbolizing rebirth, hope, and the timeless cycle of life. 

The forms also echo the lotus flower, a sacred symbol in ancient Egyptian mythology tied to creation and renewal.

Turkish artist Mert Ege Köse presents “The Shen”, inspired by the ancient Egyptian Shen symbol representing eternity, protection, and divine order.

Crafted from aluminum and smooth metallic materials, the sculpture embodies continuity and the interconnectedness of all existence. 

Its looping form evokes cycles of time, history, and human experience.

“Code of the Eternal” by Jongkyu (J) Park merges digital visual language with ancient geometry. 

The sculptural installation incorporates coded messages and phone-number-based inscriptions within a geometric structure whose proportions are mathematically tied to the pyramids themselves. 

Park explained that the work reflects hidden histories and encrypted communication across civilizations, linking modern identity with ancient architectural symbolism.

In “Wind” by Ana Ferrari, 21 polished aluminum flutes are arranged in a spiral, allowing natural desert wind to activate the piece. 

The sculpture becomes a musical instrument played by the landscape itself, emphasizing invisible forces and the deep relationship between humanity and nature.

One of the exhibition’s central works is “The Third Paradise (Il Terzo Paradiso)” by renowned Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto. 

The piece reimagines the mathematical infinity symbol with a third central loop, representing the balance between the natural world and the human-made world. It symbolizes a new stage of civilization grounded in sustainability and harmony.

The exhibition concludes with “Ma’at” by Egyptian artist Salha ElMasry, inspired by the ancient Egyptian concept of Ma’at, truth, balance, order, and justice. 

Transforming the design of an ancient seal ring into a public monument, ElMasry shifts the symbol from personal authority to shared cultural space, reconnecting contemporary viewers with timeless moral and cosmic principles.

Forever Is Now V once again succeeds in bridging ancient history with contemporary expression, turning the Giza Plateau into a living dialogue between civilizations. 

With its compelling installations, international collaborations, and profound thematic narratives, the exhibition invites audiences to reflect on how art serves as a universal language connecting humanity across time.