Formed by Dialogue open to the public till 14 November 2026.
Set within the halls of Egypt’s first national museum, the second edition of Formed by Dialogue brings together 17 international artists and designers, reimagining ancient Egyptian heritage through contemporary design.
This year’s edition draws inspiration from the symbols, objects and materials that have shaped Egyptian civilisation for thousands of years, reinterpreting them through contemporary expressions of furniture, sculpture, lighting, jewellery and functional design.
From the scarab and the lotus to the goddess Nut, the ancient game of Senet and the boat of the afterlife, the 17 participating artists and designers explore how the forms and meanings of ancient Egyptian culture can find new life through contemporary creative practice. Natural materials, including Egyptian alabaster, stone, bronze, wood, brass and mother-of-pearl, further connect the works to the rich material traditions that have long defined Egypt’s artistic heritage.
Bringing a regional perspective to this year’s edition, Mai Wahdan of KŪN, representing the Gulf, presents the Tura Table and Serr Table, drawing inspiration from the Tura limestone once used to clad the pyramids. Left raw and hand-fractured, the stone is paired with brass, creating a dialogue between natural materials and contemporary design.
Lebanese master furniture designer Hicham Ghandour presents the Pharaohs Offering Table, translating the forms of an ancient chair and temple column capital into a contemporary furniture piece. Its perforated surface draws inspiration from the jewellery box of Yuya and Thuya, while the tabletop is crafted from Aswan black stone.
Also based in Cairo, Lina Al Orabi, founder of Don Tanani, presents the Vivacious Ouroboros bench. Crafted in oak with oxidised blue inlay, the piece recalls the ancient Egyptian practice of decorating wood with precious stones, while celebrating the exceptional craftsmanship found in the city’s historic workshops.
Omar Chakil presents Curule Aten, a monolithic creation in Egyptian alabaster that reflects his ongoing exploration of stone, identity and memory through Egypt’s artisanal heritage.
Costa Rican designer Johanna Van Parijs looks to the goddess Nut for inspiration, presenting Nut’s Gate, a totem panel, alongside The Conversation Chair, both exploring ancient Egyptian symbolism through the goddess as a threshold between worlds.
The international line-up continues with Jiang Qiong Er, the acclaimed Chinese artist and designer and co-founder of Shang Xia with Hermès, brings Chinese craftsmanship into the dialogue through a bamboo marquetry screen and a chair inspired by the classic Ming Dynasty armchair.
Completing the selection, Cairo-based artist Bahaa Amer, represented by Le LAB, presents Table Offering, a three-metre-long work crafted from bronze, wood, marble and everyday objects. Drawing on the rituals of offering in ancient Egyptian belief, the piece creates a dialogue between historical traditions and contemporary consumer culture.
