Artwork: Jean-Marie Appriou, Vessel of Time, Giza Plateau, Egypt, 2024
Currently on show in Cairo at the Giza Plateau is the 4th edition of Art D’Égypte’s exhibition Forever is Now. The aim of this project organised by the Egyptian art and heritage group Art D’Égypte is to juxtapose contemporary art with antiquities and heritage sites, creating opportunities for cultural interactions between artists from different parts of the world. The chief organiser and founder, Nadine Abdel-Ghaffar, said this about the project: "Every year we try to stay on top and address the whole world to bring all countries together in one place in this civilization, which all people know and are impressed by. This is a slogan for humanity. I always say that the pyramids have been there for over 4,500 years and they are still there, surviving all the wars and all the changes, and they will remain there forever."
Blending contemporary art with ancient history, this idea of the eternal in the present is evident in participating French artist Jean-Marie Appriou’s sculpture, Vessel of Time; an ancient Egyptian boat made of two tonnes Nile River clay with a bronze statue of an unclothed boy standing in the middle, representing the journey of childhood and humanity from life to death. The work is inspired by Khufu’s solar boat, found next to the Khufu pyramid. In ancient Egyptian mythology, boats were buried with the dead to transport their resurrected souls. The sculpture is also set at an east-west axis to embody the sun's movement from dawn to dusk. The theme of the boat, representing transitions between different states and times, has been central to Appriou’s previous work.
As Nadine Abdel-Ghaffar has stated, “The whole idea behind Art D’Égypte when it started was, really, to showcase the transcendence that Egyptian artists have with their heritage.” The project’s evolution since 2021 has expanded on this initial premise, showcasing a range of artists from different cultures and countries engaging with the Giza site and the wealth of Egyptian culture and history. Forever is Now is showing until November 16, 2024.