Grimanesa Amorós

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Grimanesa Amorós
Grimanesa Amoros Uros Island.jpg
Grimanesa Amoros Uros Island, Venice Biennial 2011
Born
Grimanesa Amorós

1962 (age 58–59)[1]
Lima, Peru[1]
NationalityPeruvian-born American
Known forLight art
Notable work
Uros House (2011), Uros Island (2011) "Golden Waters" (2015) "Pink Lotus" (2015)
AwardsNational Endowment for the Arts Visual Artists Fellowship Grant and the Art in Embassies Program
Websitewww.grimanesaamoros.com

Grimanesa Amorós (born 1962 in Lima, Peru) is an interdisciplinary Peruvian-American artist known for her large-scale light sculpture installations. Amorós researches the installation sites, and her works incorporate lighting, video, and sculpture to create site-specific installations.[2] Amorós often draws upon Peruvian cultural legacies for inspiration for her work. She has exhibited in Mexico, Tel Aviv, Beijing, and New York's Times Square.

Early life and career[]

Her artistic ambitions began when she was fascinated with drawing maps at a young age. Her mother saw talent in her and enrolled Amorós in art classes at the age of eleven.[citation needed] When she was in her teens, she studied psychology and art. She attended the Miguel Gayo Art Atelier in Lima, Peru.[3] When Amorós was eighteen, she exhibited a sold-out show featuring her paintings.[4]

Concerned about her early success, Amorós moved to New York City to work as an artist. Once there, she won a scholarship to study painting and printmaking at the Art Students League of New York. She started mainly as a painter, but - thinking about paint in sculptural terms - eventually moved on to creating three-dimensional artworks.[4]

Grimanesa Amoro's art plays deftly with the notion that painting and sculpture might come into being through the process of shedding, as opposed to accumulation, the more physical aspects of form, so that the condition in which her subjects are presented does not function as a 'final' state at all, but more like one of several possible chosen moments within which the process of coming-into-being has been captured.[5]

Amorós' interests in three-dimensional artworks led to her exploration of paper-making processes. She used this in her work with pieces such as La Incubadora at the Roger Smith Lab Gallery.[3]

Public work[]

After years of showing in gallery spaces, public art had an accessibility and openness that always intrigued her. Amorós' earliest public pieces were Frente Feroz in Harlem, New York City, an installation that incorporated silhouettes made from paper and light, and La Incubadora, at the Roger Smith Lab Gallery in New York City, an installation incorporating paper-made sculpture and atmospheric lighting. These lighting installations led her to the bubble sculptures she would later be known for.[6] She developed her idea by using LEDs, Lexan and silkscreens to create translucent spheres inspired by the natural elegance of sea foam and totora reeds.[7]

Selected light installations / sculptures[]

Huanchaco Series[]

Glowing red tubes form an open dome in a park at night.
Hedera in Prospect Park

Hedera (2018)[]

As part of its 40th anniversary, BRIC commissioned HEDERA, a large light installation for Prospect Park in New York. Amorós created flowing and pulsating tubes of red and white lighting. Visitors could walk under and around the LED tubes covering the structure, and those who went into the center of the installation could see their reflections above them in the dome. The shapes and shadows of smaller protruding domes suggested a budding plant and a blooming flower. Amorós said she wanted the sculpture to bring viewers closer to a utopia in which people could celebrate nature, diversity, creativity, and their shared humanity.[8]

Tubes filled with lavender, gold, and white lights wrap around each other and extend into the distance.
Ocupante Ludwig Museum Koblenz 2016

Ocupante (2016)[]

In 2016 she exhibited the work title "Ocupante" at the Ludwig Museum Koblenz. The Ludwig Museum Koblenz shows three great works of her two large-scale installations and a video with the Spanish title "ocupante" - what occupiers or owners may be called. This title has chosen the Museum of the whole exhibition. For the artist whose work literally taken possession of the museum and its surroundings. At first glance it all looks very technical and abstract, what Grimanesa Amorós has since built up in the Ludwig Museum: An entire floor full of light tubes that are intertwined and wrapped around each other. At the ends of the space they are held by metal frames, but otherwise seem to hover in the shadows. Periodically light pulses and starts through the tubes, sometimes flashing the lights in light on, then they are dimmed again. There is a rhythm like breathing in and out, the viewer perceives him sometime down automatically.[9]

grimanesa amoros pink lotus peninsula hotel New York
Pink Lotus at Peninsula Hotel NY 2016

Pink Lotus (2015)[]

Golden Waters in Scottsdale, Arizona

Amorós participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by using LED lights to create a pink lotus flower on the Beaux-Arts façade of The Peninsula New York hotel. The artwork drew attention to the Roman goddesses and the lotus flower with an 11-minute light sequence.[10]

Golden Waters (2015)[]

Golden Waters was inspired by the Arizona canal, which itself was modeled after waterways constructed by the Hohokam tribe in the 13th century.[11] The sculpture is attached to the Soleri bridge, designed by artist, architect and philosopher Paolo Soleri, and runs parallel to the canal channel eighty feet (24 m) west of the bridge.[12] The LED tubing seems to rise from the water, and the sculpture is a metaphor for the shifting balance between the city and nature.[13]

Breathless Maiden Lane (2014)[]

Breathless Maiden Lane at 125 Maiden Lane New York, NY

Breathless Maiden Lane was an installation in the atrium of 125 Maiden Lane, a glass, marble and granite space in New York's Financial District. Amorós used LED lights, diffusive material, and "bubble" sculptures. The LED tubing was an allusion to reeds that grow in northern Peru, and the bubbles meant to suggest the artificial islands of Lake Titicaca.[14] The light installation is a part of VIP The Armory Show (art fair) event.[15]

mirror connection cafam museum of cafa Arata Isozaki light installation light art grimanesa amoros
The Mirror Connection at Museum of China Central Academy of Fine Arts by Grimanesa Amoros

The Mirror Connection (2013)[]

The Mirror Connection was a light sculpture installation which was opened June 2, 2013 and ran through June 22nd, 2013.[16] It included exposed circuitry and unpredictable light patterns.[17]

Fortuna (2013)[]

Fortuna was a temporary site-specific light installation located at Tabacalera in Madrid, Spain. Commissioned by Ministry of Education and Culture in Spain, Fortuna was named after the tobacco brand that was manufactured there in the former factory, La Fragua.[18]

Uros Series[]

Uros House in Times Square, 2011

In her lighting sculptures, Amorós returns to the theme of the "Uros Islands", which are a series of floating islands in Lake Titicaca bordering Peru and Bolivia. The islands were made from dried totora reeds by the pre-Incan Uros people.[19] When Amorós first visited the islands, she was struck by "the sense of weightlessness and spiritual connectivity" she experienced by walking on them.[20]

The reeds are also used as a structural material to build everything from houses to boats in the Uros culture. Amorós has incorporated the shapes and patterns of these reeds into her lighting sculptures. Recent works include: [21]

Uros Island at the 2011 Venice Biennale as part of the collateral project Future Pass

Uros House in Times Square[]

Part of the Times Square Alliance Public Arts Program[22] in collaboration with The Armory Show (art fair)[23] This piece was later on being exhibited at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, Louisiana[24] Uros House uses the traditional shape and design of the Uros islands houses to mirror the beauty of sea foam.[25]

Uros Island at the 54th Venice Biennale (2011)[]

54th International Art Exhibition in Venice, Italy. Part of the Collateral Event FUTURE PASS [26]

Uros Island, an installation by Grimanesa Amorós that was featured at the 54th Venice Biennale's International Art Exhibition, was inspired by Lake Titicaca's floating oases in a high-elevation environment. The installation combines the shifting patterns of light and colors of Venice and of the Inca lake as the sun arcs across the sky. When the sun set over the Venetian exhibition site and stars appeared, the glowing hemispheric islands in the Uros piece seemed to float in mid-air.[27] The exhibition traveled to Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in Taiwan and Today Art Museum in China.[28]

Uros at Tribeca Issey Miyake (2011)[]

Grimanesa Amoros "Uros" Tribeca Issey Miyake

The bubbles created a tension with the store's exoskeletal design by Frank Gehry, as well as the pleated fashions on display. The installation continued the "Uros" series, inspired by artificial landscapes created by pre-Incan people, which appeared at the Venice Biennale and in Times Square in conjunction with the Armory Show.[29]

Golden Uros as part of the 2011 APART Festival[]

At the Chapelle de la Persévérance in Tarascon, France [30]

Racimo on Allure of the Seas in Turku, Finland, 2011

Racimo (2010)[]

Amorós had been gradually incorporating light into her sculptures, and her first major lighting sculpture a commission by ICART for Royal Caribbean International to create a lighting sculpture for Allure of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.

Inspired by natural light, Amorós looked for a way to incorporate technology to express her interpretation of how nature affects her.[31] She created Racimo based on her time growing up in Peru, spending long afternoons in vineyards. She became fascinated by the color and shapes of the grapes. The shapes of Racimo also mirrored her interest in the form and colors of ocean foam.[32]

Collaborations[]

Amoros collaborated with the Biennale Des Antiquaires at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, to create the lighting sculpture piece, Timeless Motion (In Life and Light).

In 2014, Amorós collaborated with Akiko Elizabeth Maie, the newest label from Nepenthes AMERICA INC., presenting Onkochishin 2014.[33]

miranda grimaensa amoros video art light between the islands
Grimanesa Amoros Miranda Video Tel Aviv Israel 2013

Ivri Lider of The Young Professionals and Amorós collaborated on the soundtrack of her video, "Miranda". The video premiered with her sculpture, Light between the Islands in 2013.[34]

Afrodiaspora CD cover for Susana Baca designed by Grimanesa Amorós Studio, 2011

Amorós worked with Afro-Peruvian singer and Peru's Minister of Culture, Susana Baca, in her video "Between Heaven and Earth". Baca produced an original score for the video, titled "Nacimiento de Voces" ("Birth Voices"). She also produced an interview documentary titled, La Conexion Perfecta de Susana Baca, which was used in Baca's concerts.[35] Amorós' latest collaboration with Baca is the Baca's latest album in 2011, Afrodiaspora, where Amorós designed and used images of her artwork with photos of Susana in the CD packaging.[36]

In her Rootless Algas video, she worked with Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson who produced an original score.[36] The video exhibited with her installation of large multi-colored algae made by casting translucent abaca sheets.

In Reflexion Obscura she worked with José Luis Pardo - multiple-Grammy nominated and Latin Grammy Winning Los Amigos Invisibles on the score.[37]

In La Incubadora she worked with multiple Grammy-nominated Meshell Ndegeocello.[3]

In 2011, she did a special collaboration with fashion designer Manuel Fernandez in his "Fashion Art" show, creating a dress called "Precious Nipples".[38]

Exhibitions[]

Most recent exhibitions and public works

Apart Festival, France, 2016; Katonah Museum of Art, New York , 2016; "Ocupante", Ludwig Museum Koblenz, 2016; "Pink Lotus", The Peninsula New York, 2015; "Golden Waters, Soleri Bridge, Arizona, 2015; 125 Maiden Lane, NYC, 2014;[39] Fortuna, La Fragua Tabacalera, Madrid, Spain, 2013;[18] The Mirror Connection, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China, 2013;[16] Harper's Bazaar / Art Basel HK, Hong Kong, China, 2013; Georgian National Museum's National Gallery, Tbilisi, Georgia, 2013; Livak Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2013; "Uros House", The Lite Center, Lafayette, Louisiana, 2013; Yuan Space, Voyager Video Retrospective, Beijing, China, 2012;[40] La Torre De Los Vientos, The Route of Friendship Patronage, WMF, Nina Menocal Gallery, Mexico D.F. 2012; 21c Museum Hotels, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012; PECO Building, Art in the Air, Philadelphia, PA 2012; The Flag Art Foundation, Watch Your Step, NYC, 2012; Seoul National University Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea, 2012; 54th Biennale di Venezia, Illuminazioni – Illuminations Collateral Event Future Pass, Venice, Italy, The Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan, and The Today Art Museum in Beijing, China, 2011; tribeca Issey Miyake Headquarter, NYC, 2011; Times Square Alliance Public Arts Program in collaboration with The Armory Show, New York

Awards and grants[]

Visionary Art Show: Lifetime Achievement Award (Italy), Bronx Museum of the Arts: AIM Alumni Artist Award (NY), The National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship (Washington, DC), The Travel Grant Fund for Artists, NEA Arts International, (New York, NY), The Bronx Museum for the Arts: Aim Program (Bronx, NY),[41] The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation "Participant Biennial Competition" (New York NY), Awards also include the X Tumi USA Award (Miami, FL), Artist residency fellowships by Omi International Arts Center (Columbia County, NY),[42] Rutgers University "Estelle Lebowitz Visiting Artist," (New Brunswick, NJ),[43] Santa Fe Art Institute (Santa Fe, NM), Virginia Center for the Creative Arts(Amherst, VA),[44] Artspace (Raleigh, NC)[45] and Centrum Arts (Port Townsend, WA). Additionally, her works have been selected for the Art in Embassies Program of the U.S. Department of State in Ankara, Turkey (2001) and Lima, Peru (2003).

Bibliography[]

  • Grimanesa Amoros: Ocupante, artist Amorós, authors Beate Reifenscheid (Hirmer Verlag, 2016) ISBN 978-37-7742-648-8
  • Grimanesa Amoros: Between Heaven and Earth, Rootless Algas, artist Amorós; essay authors Marek Bartelik, Picardo Pereira (Hostos Center for The Arts and Culture/ CUNY, 2006) ISBN 978-09-654-2735-7.
  • This Is Substantial, artist Amorós, authors Amorós (Everest / Four Colour Imports, 2008) ISBN 978-09-8159-970-0.
  • Grimanesa Amoros: Falling Tell Me Your Story Exhibition, artist Amorós, authors Amorós (Artco Gallery, 2003) ASIN: B002KFAWWY.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Puerto, Cecilia (1996). Latin American Women Artists, Kahlo and Look who else: A Selective, Annotated Bibliography. ISBN 9780313289347.
  2. ^ Frank, Priscilla, (July 07, 2015), "Artist Grimanesa Amoros Combines Architecture And Ecology For Spellbinding Public Work", The Huffington Post.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Grimanesa Amorós Interview by Wynwood Magazine (PDF), Wynwood, retrieved August 24, 2011
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Grimanesa Amorós Interview by "Asia Sur - Edición Nº 116", Revista Asia Sur, retrieved July 27, 2015
  5. ^ Essay by Dan Cameron (1994), The World
  6. ^ Jungle Fever Time Out New York (PDF), Time Out New York, retrieved August 24, 2011
  7. ^ Cavaluzzo, Alexander, (December 23, 2011), "The Artist Behind the Light Installation at Tribeca Issey Miyake". Hyperallergic.
  8. ^ "Grimanesa Amorós: HEDERA". BRIC Arts Media. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  9. ^ "'Ocupante' Ausstellung im Ludwig Museum Koblenz" ['Ocupante' exhibition at the Ludwig Museum Koblenz]. SWR2 Culture (in German). Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Grimanesa Amoros Pink Lotus". The Peninsula New York. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018.
  11. ^ Slenske, Michael, (June 30, 2015), "Light art illuminates a canal in the desert", Architectural Digest.
  12. ^ Mufson, Beckett, (June 18, 2015), "Golden Light Flows Like Water in Hanging Installation", The Creators Project
  13. ^ "Grimanesa Amoros. Golden Waters". Wall Street International.
  14. ^ "Breathless Maiden Lane". Time Art In Buildings.
  15. ^ "Time Equities Art-in-Buildings Hosts VIP Armory Show on March 8 Maiden Lane". Art PR Wire.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "GRIMANESA AMORÓS: The Mirror Connection". China Central Academy of Fine Arts, China. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  17. ^ "Grimanesa Amorós: Luminous Circuitry". Installation Magazine. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b "FORTUNA. Grimanesa Amorós". The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, Spain. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  19. ^ Provence Ventoux: Le Blog, retrieved August 24, 2011
  20. ^ "Aracari Fostering Creativity: Inspiration for Artist Grimanesa Amoros", The Khipu Blog
  21. ^ Golden Uros article by Provence Ventoux: Le Blog, retrieved August 24, 2011
  22. ^ "The Times Square Armory Show". Time Square Arts. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  23. ^ "Five Major Public Art Sculptures Unveiled in Times Square", The Official Site of Time Square
  24. ^ "Fall 2011", Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum
  25. ^ "UROS HOUSE by Grimanesa Amorós at Time Square, Father Duffy Square, New York". wescover.com. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  26. ^ Grimanesa Amorós Website Uros Island, Wynwood, retrieved August 24, 2011
  27. ^ Platt, Kevin Holden,"Grimanesa Amorós: Sculpting with Light and Video", Yuan Space
  28. ^ "Future Pass – From Asia to the World, International Art @ La Biennale di Venezia". Ganzo. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  29. ^ "The Artist Behind the Light Installation at Tribeca Issey Miyake". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  30. ^ "Festival APART 2011" (PDF). A-PART Art Festival.
  31. ^ Grimanesa Amorós Interview by Dr. Lee A. Gray, retrieved August 24, 2011
  32. ^ Grimanesa Amoros Racimo InterviewGrimanesa Amorós Interview, retrieved August 24, 2011
  33. ^ "Grimanesa Amoros and Akiko Elizabeth Maie: Onkochishin 2014". Musée Magazine.
  34. ^ Farver, Jane, (2013), "Grimanesa Amorós’ Light between the Islands", Litvak Gallery
  35. ^ Grimanesa Amorós, "Between Heaven Heaven and Earth" and La Conexion Perfecta de Susana Baca video Grimanesa Amorós website video page
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b Grimanesa Amorós, "Between Heaven Heaven and Earth" and Afrodiaspora CD album Grimanesa Amorós Afrodiaspora page Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ "REFLEXION OBSCURA", YouTube
  38. ^ Valrie Gladstone, NY Times In Transit Outside Madrid, Celebrating a Fashion Designer Who Embraces Art
  39. ^ "Golden Waters". Scottsdale Public Art.
  40. ^ Grimanesa Amorós: Voyager - Video Retrospective, Yuan Space
  41. ^ "The Bronx Museum for the Arts: Aim Program". The Bronx Museum.
  42. ^ "ALUMNI 1992-2014" (PDF). [OMI International Arts Center]. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  43. ^ "Estelle Lebowitz Visiting Artist-in-Residence Lectureship". Institute for Women and Art, Rutgers University. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  44. ^ "VCCA Fellows". The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
  45. ^ "Artspace, Past Summer Artists in Residence". artspacenc.org. Retrieved 2015-07-27.

External links[]

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