Under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Tourism Promotion Authority, and the patronage of UNESCO, « Culturvator/Art D’Égypte », specialized in organizing art and cultural exhibitions, held a press conference to announce the details of the fourth « Forever Is Now » exhibition, which will take place at the Giza Pyramids from October 24th to November 16th, 2024. The conference attendees were: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative, Ambassador Manal Al-Shenawy, Italian Cultural Attaché Raffaele Pentangelo, artist Mohammad Fares, and a number of Arab and foreign artists.
Art D’Égypte founder, Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, stated that the fourth « Forever Is Now » celebrates exploration and artists’ ability to discover special meanings and connect them to ancient Egyptian civilization, confirming that the exhibition develops each year and gains global momentum until it has become a significant event on the annual agenda of tourists and school and university students.
Abdel Ghaffar revealed the participation of 12 international artists in the « Forever Is Now » exhibition. It is the first time that Korean and Indian artists have participated in the exhibition. The works of artists include: sculptures, installations, paintings, designs, and abstract forms that highlight the impact of ancient art on contemporary art, as well as their extended links.
Furthemore, Abdel Ghaffar revealed the collaboration between « Culturvator/Art D’Égypte » and Bibliotheca Alexandrina when it comes to hosting the second edition of « A Tale of Two Cities: Athens and Alexandria » exhibition, following the huge success of the first edition at the Acropolis Museum in the Greek capital, Athens, last June.
She mentioned that the « Tale of Two Cities » exhibition aims at strengthening the ties between Egypt and Greece by creating a visual dialogue that explores the rich artistic and cultural fabric shared by both countries.
Abdel Ghaffar announced launching the « Cairo International Art District » on the sidelines of « Forever Is Now » activities between (10-30) at three vibrant locations: The Factory, Access Art Space, and Cinema Radio. She has also announced launching « the Designers Circle » initiative which aims at fostering collaboration between artists, designers, and architects in order to create a platform that enables them to establish coordinated and visually appealing spaces where their works integrate and harmonize.
The participants of the Designers Circle are: Kahal 1871, Nagada for Handmade Clothes in Siwa and Cairo workshops, Don Tanani, R’kan by Rania Fahmy, Shewekar Furniture, and MFares Associates; an architect and one of the designers of the Mummies Parade.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative, Ambassador Manal Al-Shenawy expressed her gladness at launching the fourth « Forever Is Now », which is annually held by Art D’Égypte at the Pyramids; representing the most prominent sites of ancient civilization in the world. This will lead to promoting Egypt on the cultural and civilizational levels. Additionally, the exhibition leads to enhancing cultural exchange between the world’s artists.
In her speech, « Al-Shenawy » confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pays special attention to art, heritage and civilization sponsoring, within the framework of the Egyptian strategy that appreciates the significance of culture in all its forms when it comes to international relations as one of the most important soft power elements to achieve the goals of Egyptian foreign policy. Indeed, it contributes to strengthening the ties between peoples and countries which leads to peaceful stability and international security, as well as the positive tourism impacts and the promotion of Egypt as a tourist, cultural and civilizational destination. The exhibition will receive wide media coverage.
Ambassador Al-Shenawy added, « I’m looking forward to launching « the Cairo International Arts District », for it is a great artistic and cultural addition to the Downtown area ».
The fourth « Forever Is Now » is to present two AI Projects. The first is presented by the Egyptian-American artist Hassan Ragab, supported by Meta, showcasing his innovative work « Bridging Technology and Traditional Art » to offer a new perspective on how artificial intelligence contributes to expanding creative expression.
The second project is presented by Saudi artist Daniah Al Saleh, consisting of a 10-minute video that takes us back to the golden age of Egyptian cinema (1940-1960), exploring how these films influenced Arab societies by subtly challenging norms related to fashion, love, and personal expression.
It is worth mentioning that Art D’Égypte has organized six successful exhibitions showcasing the works of over 50 Egyptian artists, including: « Eternal Light » at the Egyptian Museum (2017); « Nothing Vanishes, Everything Transforms » at Manial Palace (2018); and « Reimagined Narratives » at four sites on Al-Muizz Street in Historic Cairo; a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2019), in addition to three international editions of « Forever Is Now » at the Giza Pyramids, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and the last remaining of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which remains on UNESCO’s World Heritage list to this day (2021, 2022, and 2023).
