국제미술제 ‘포에버 이즈 나우(Forever Is Now)’ 12인전 참가

'아리랑' 가사(한글/영어/아랍어/상형문자)와 세계인 꿈 그림 모자이크

Ik-Joong Kang, Four Temples, 2024, Forever is Now 04, Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

뉴욕의 설치작가 강익중씨가 이집트의 기자 피라미드 앞에 '네개의 한글 신전(Four Temples)'을 전시했다. 

2021년부터 매년 가을 피라미드에서 열리는 국제미술제 ‘포에버 이즈 나우(Forever Is Now)’에 한국작가로는 처음 참가해  컬러풀한 한글 신전을 모래 사막 위에 솟은 3개의 피라미드 앞에 설치했다. 

'네개의 한글 신전'의 외벽은 한글, 영어, 아랍어, 이집트 상형문자로 적힌 민요 '아리랑' 가사가 담겼으며, 내벽은 한국전쟁 실향민, 어린이, 난민 등 세계인들의 꿈을 주제로 그린 그림 5016점을 모자이크해 만든 템플이다. 

Ik-Joong Kang, Four Temples, 2024, Forever is Now 04, Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

외벽에 한글과 영어, 아랍어, 상형문자로 아리랑이 적혔고 내벽은 한국 전쟁 실향민과 어린이, 난민을 포함해 전 세계인들이 꿈과 소망을 담아 그린 그림 5천16개로 구성됐다. 각각 가로, 세로 20cm 보드에 인쇄된 그림은 철골구조에 매달려 사막의 모래 바람이 불 때마다 흔들리고 서로 부딪히며 소리를 낸다. 이로써 고대 이집트의 유산(과거)와 세계인들의 꿈(미래)가 만나며 대화를 나누는듯 하다. 

특히 이집트에서는 한류(Korean Wave) 열풍으로 카이로의 아인샴스(Ain Shams) 대학에서 한국어를 배우는 학생 30여명이 참여한 ‘현대 로템과 함께 아리랑 배우기(Learn Arirang with Hyundai Rotem)' 워크숍도 진행했다. 

아르데집트(Art D’Egypte)가 주관하는 제 4회 '포에버 이즈 나우(10/24-11/16)'엔 강익중 작가 외에도 크리스 리바인(영국), 페데리카 디 카를로(이탈리아), 제이크 마이클 싱어(남아프리카 공화국), 장 보고시안(벨기에/레바논), 장 마리 아프리우(프랑스), 칼리드 자키(이집트), 루카 보피(이탈리아), 마리 후리(캐나다/레바논), 샤일로 시브 술레맨(인도), 나씨아 잉글레시스-스튜디오 INI(그리스), 자비에 마스카로(스페인/라틴 아메리카) 등 12명의 작가들이 참가했다. 

Ik-Joong Kang, Four Temples, 2024, Forever is Now 04, Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

이집트

강익중

그 바람이 올라가 별들이 된

그 별들이 흩어져 모래가 된

그 모래가 쌓여 산이 된

그 산이 파여 강이 된

그 강이 흘러 생명이 된

그 생명을 품어 영원이 된

그 영원이 부서져 순간이 된

그 순간이 모여 바람이 된

Forever Is Now .04

The Pyramids of Giza

From 23 October, 2024-15 November, 2024

Forever Is Now is a contemporary art exhibition that brings together artists from throughout the region and the world to contemplate the wonder of an ancient civilisation through the lens created by their practices. The annual exhibition takes place at the 4500-year-old UNESCO world heritage site, the Pyramids of Giza and the surrounding plateau. The exhibition envisions echoes of ancient rituals, bustling civilizations, and the whispers of buried tales that are yet to be discovered. It is designed to trace the continuity of themes that stretch from the storied past to the present day – emphasizing that our understanding of the world is an ever-evolving tapestry and questioning the transformative power of storytelling.  

Rooted in the universal human impulse to uncover, understand, and connect, the exhibition delves into the rich stories concealed beneath the surface, whether in the layers of the earth or the corridors of history. Set against the backdrop of arid expanses and shifting sands, this exhibition invites us to contemplate the inexhaustible human quest for meaning. Through a myriad of mediums, ranging from sculpture and installations to immersive digital experiences, the artists dissects the known and the unknown, revealing the narratives that shape our collective consciousness. The concept embraces the paradox of excavation as both an intellectual pursuit and an emotional journey, extracting meaning, history, and societal discourse. 

The fourth edition of Forever is Now seeks to blur the lines between past and present, tradition and innovation, creating dynamic spaces where discovery is not a passive act but a participatory experience. This exhibition serve as a space where artists and the audience become modern-day archaeologists, wielding creativity as their tools. The use of unconventional materials further reinforces the idea that art, like archaeology, requires a keen eye for the unexpected and the ability to celebrate the mundane. Inviting viewers to reconsider the familiar, elevating the ordinary and finding the treasures hidden in plain sight.  

The overarching vision behind this annual exhibition is to build a culture of interconnectivity and care, one where perspectives shift and interpretations evolve. Bringing together people from around the world, the exhibition includes cross-cultural exchange with local communities, encouraging a high level of engagement with different publics, not just visitors but also craftspeople, students, and labourers, thus providing new ways of accessing contemporary art for the uninitiated.  

Forever Is Now.04 is an ode to the enchantment of ancient Egypt’s cultural heritage while the contemporary installations are a testament to the continual evolution of art. Taking place during a tumultuous time that sees our present disturbed in myriad ways, the exhibition is guided by the enigmatic wisdom of ancient Egyptian beliefs, delving into themes of transcendence, hope and faith that are anchored within our knowledge and constant discovery of the past and in the unwavering belief that there is no conception of the future without history. We look at the narrative of past achievements to question, find inspiration and understand the nature of the successive generations. Forever is Now.04 is not simply a revival of this history, however, for the past can never be complete in the present. Rather, it is a contribution to a contemporary artistic legacy in a place of worldwide historical significance. 

"Forever Is Now" Artists:

I See, I See, Federica Di Carlo. Photography: © MO4 

#Federica Di Carlo (Italy): Di Carlo, known for her deep connection to nature and the cosmos, will present an installation that symbolizes the infinite possibilities of life and the unseen energies that surround us, merging the scientific with the mystical in a thought-provoking manner.

#Ik-Joong Kang (South Korea): Kang, renowned for his intricate mosaics, which bring together thousands of small canvases, each representing a story or memory, will create a work at Giza that draws parallels between the ancient world and modern life, symbolizing the collective memories that shape our present. 

#Jake Michael Singer (South Africa): Singer, creating large-scale installations that explore the tension between natural landscapes and urban environments, will present a work that reflects on the juxtaposition of the ancient desert with modernity, challenging viewers to rethink their relationship with nature and history.

#Jean Boghossian (Belgium/Lebanon): A master of the art of fire, Boghossian’s burnt canvases and sculptures are a testament to the transformative power of flame, representing both destruction and creation. At the Giza Pyramids, his work echoes the enduring spirit of rebirth.

Padma: Pulse and Bloom, Shilo Shiv Suleman. Photography: © MO4

#Shilo Shiv Suleman (India): Suleman merges Eastern and Western symbols to create immersive installations that represent a rebirth of consciousness. Her work, inspired by the blue lotus flower, offers a space for connection and peace, blending ancient Egyptian and Indian motifs.

#Jean-Marie Appriou (France): Appriou, known for his dreamlike sculptures that blend mythology with contemporary concerns, will craft an ochre clay boat at the Giza Plateau, which symbolizes transitions through time, accompanied by a “child character” representing the connection between past, present, and future. The evolving nature of the artwork reflects the passage of time, as the Nile clay cracks and changes.

#Khaled Zaki (Egypt): Zaki, known for his unique perspective that melds ancient Egyptian forms with modern abstraction, will present sculptures that resonate with the timelessness of the Pyramids, embodying a fusion of past and present in their design and materiality.

#Luca Boffi (Italy): Boffi explores the intersection of natural and artificial environments through his use of grids as optical devices. His work engages communities in a shared exploration of space and memory, transforming the Giza Pyramids into a canvas for collective action.

I Love, Marie Khouri. Photography: © MO4 

#Marie Khouri (Canada/Lebanon): Khouri merges her Egyptian heritage with global influences, creating flowing arabesque forms that spell out universal messages of peace and unity. Her work reflects a deep connection to bothher roots and her journey as a global artist.

#Chris Levine (United Kingdom): Levine, celebrated for his pioneering work in light art and spatial awareness, will create an installation that draws on sacred geometry and astronomical ratios, particularly those found in the Great Pyramid of Khufu. His work offers a contemplative space, inviting viewers to explore the universal truths embedded in the Giza Plateau.

Liquid Solid, Studio INI (Nassia Inglessis). Photography: © MO4

#STUDIO INI by Nassia Inglessis (Greece): Inglessis is known for her sculptures that take form and transform human interaction. Her sculpture at Giza invites viewers to engage physically and transform it as an integral part of its liquid solidity, as they journey into the past of the Ancient Egyptians to form a vision of the monument of the future that unites the Human, the Technological and the Elemental.

Exodus, Xavier Mascaró. Photography: © MO4

#Xavier Mascaro (Spain/Latin America): Mascaro integrates architecture, design, and sculpture in his works, which often interact with the environment. His contribution to the exhibition at Giza plays with perspectives and perceptions, making the viewer question the boundaries between what is ancient and what is new.

https://www.artdegypte.org