TasteMaker
GRIMANESA AMORÓS 

Speaking to her inspirations for her current works in Istanbul - Amorós writes, " The Bosphorus has long served as a bridge between East and West, shaped by centuries of migration, trade, and cultural exchange. Time is central to these flows, structuring how people move through space and how memory is passed across generations. In  A Wave of Time, I explore Istanbul’s layered histories through two site-specific installations: PASSAGE and MARITIME. Installed in The Peninsula Istanbul's historic clock tower, PASSAGE reflects on time, migration, and cultural heritage. The tower once guided travelers and locals as they boarded and disembarked ferries moments when time signified anticipation, transition, and possibility. Inside the Peninsula Istanbul 5 Star Luxury Hotel, MARITIME evokes the rhythms of the Bosphorus sea foam, tides, constellations and draws the energy of the outside waters into the interior. The work’s form becomes a vessel, carrying memory, movement, and light across geographies. It invites viewers to reflect on the stories borne by the waves, while also acknowledging the fragile state of our seas. Together, these works create a single narrative: light as a vessel connecting people, place and memory."

Amorós absolutely believes life is full of magical moments, that we never know when they will happen. When she was 11 years old, her mother was in New York City and sent Amorós a postcard of the city skyline which greatly impacted her - its architecture and lights, she carried that postcard to every country she travelled and recalls the first moment she arrived there with two bags and many dreams. "For me, going to Time Square in the 80’s was something from another universe. I was amazed. The grit, the spirit, the openness, and of course the bright lights. It was a city with personality, one of a kind. The “anything goes” attitude makes the city unique, the oddities of it all, the characters, the high rises, the intensity—it was impossible to forget that moment, the moment New York City became my city." 

Her mother also influenced Amorós' statement style, "My mother was my greatest inspiration - as a kid, I used to love watching her get ready. She was a very elegant lady, and for fun, would love to dress up as different characters by using wigs and changing her style. When she'd go out with my father or attend social engagements, I used to love how much care she took, trying on different blouses, dresses, belts... combining and styling." 

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