Giza Pyramids host contemporary art show for 1st time
Cairo, Nov 2 (EFE).- A contemporary art show has gone on display in the shadow of the Giza Pyramids, a first of its kind since the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World was first constructed 4,000 years ago.
The Forever Is Now exhibition, organized by the Egyptian firm Art D’Egypte, has drawn the attention of both locals and tourists, who were keen to take selfies with the artworks.
Among the popular pieces is a stainless steel mesh sculpture by Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn in the form of two large transparent hands joined together, who takes “huge pride” in exhibiting his piece next to the pyramids.
“It’s called Together because we are getting back together after a very difficult year and a half of Covid-19, where the world has been separated and humanity has suffered a lot,” the Italian artist told Efe.
“We are still coming out of this. It is a bit of rebirth and where better to be reborn than in a place where civilization began,” he added.
Egyptian artist Sherin Guirguis was inspired by the history of Egypt to “create a new work to honor the queens buried here and call back their history and remember them once more.”
“I’m immensely proud, in particular as an Egyptian woman, to be able to make work here at this time and in this historic place,” she told Efe.
The exhibition is the “culminating moment for the Egyptian art scene,” Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, founder of the Art D’Egypte, told Efe.
Egypt witnessed an artistic boom following the 2011uprising, when artists could freely express themselves in the streets. In recent years, however, the government has curtailed many artistic freedoms and increased censorship.
As a result, art has been limited to galleries and private exhibitions, which has given rise to a more elitist art scene that is hardly visible in the country.
“The brilliant thing that Art D’Egypte has done is bring attention to the cutting edge work being done here in Egypt, which hopefully will result in even more support and recognition for these amazing artists, galleries and institutions,” Guirguis said. EFE
ijm/ta/jt
