Portal of Light

From October 27 to November 29, 2022, Emilio Ferro presents Portal of Light, a site- specific temporary installation conceived by the light artist for 'Forever Is Now II', the major exhibition organised by Culturvator/ Art D'Égypte in the shadow of the Pyramids.

At the outskirts of Cairo, the archaeological site of Giza, a UNESCO world heritage site, becomes a place for experimentation and dialogue between generations and cultures.

Emilio Ferro uses light, sound and sculpture to articulate a unique artistic experience and to draw a path capable of traversing history and space. The site-specific installation "Portal of Light" explores the imagery of Ancient Egypt through a reflection on the themes threshold and light: the first, as a bridge between the world of the living and the world of the dead; the second, as an element to which the cult of the sun, worshipping deities such as Isis and Ra, is associated with.

Inspired by two ancient papyri, the Book of the Dead and the Book of Amduat, Portal of Light develops following the orientation of the cardinal points and the changing of the sunlight during the day. Two metal structures follow the perfect inclination of the three pyramids of Giza: the first guards the illuminating body and generates a beam of light capable of passing through the second portal, extending its ray for hundreds of metres.

During the night, spectators will be able to enter the installation, under the beam of light, following its direction: an immersive adventure to experience the journey of the god Ra in his boat through the night sky, as illustrated in the ancient papyri.

The work can also be enjoyed during daylight hours, designed considering the path of the sun furthermore, natural light will thus replace the artificial light that illuminates and characterises the work during the night, while a metal line positioned on the ground crosses the two structures for twenty metres and indicates the line to be followed during the day.

To complete the installation, the artist created a sound intervention after recording the wind blowing on the Giza Plateau; Emilio Ferro sampled its sound to compose the soundtrack that embraces his work. Directional speakers, integrated into the structures, modulate the visitor's experience and create an additional narrative level that, thanks to the essential force of light, cuts through the surrounding architectural and natural space, triggering a new confrontation between art, landscape and history.

Portal of Light is part of the group exhibition 'Forever Is Now II', organised by Culturvator/ Art D'Égypte, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Against the backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza, the last remaining of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the project brings together the works of 12 international artists including Emilio Ferro, JR, eL Seed and SpY and Jwan Yosef. A universal cultural heritage confronted with contemporary artistic practices: "Forever Is Now II" explores themes from the distant past to the present, to dream about the future of humanity.