Soaring high over the Bosphorus, the clock tower of The Peninsula Istanbul stands like a geometric beacon, its structured volumes a visual lightening rod against the hotel’s colorful green canopies and the ornate Galata Tower in the distance. But those lured to the culturally rich city during Contemporary Istanbul were met with a dramatic sight as the familiar landmark glowed from within a tight tangle of cherry-red light.
The installation was part of a special commission entitled “A Wave of Time” by Peruvian artist Grimanesa Amorós, whose dynamic light sculptures have transformed sites and structures across the globe.
On the exterior, Passage, a new work by the artist, was specially commissioned for the property. Here, Amorós drew color inspiration from the flag of Turkey and used illumination to spotlight the history of the building, once a ferry terminal, weaving the neon threads inside and out, like travelers passing through. Within the hotel lobby, a second commission, Maritime, nods to the city’s nautical past with a gleaming form that evokes the shape of a ship.
“Grimanesa Amorós was a natural fit for The Peninsula Istanbul,” says Jonathan Crook, managing director at The Peninsula Istanbul. “Her ability to fuse light, architecture, and emotion made her uniquely suited to respond to the city’s layered history and dynamic energy.”
“It has been wonderful to have The Peninsula team’s support to create my vision,” says Amorós. “I found the maritime heritage of the city and the Bosphorus to be deeply inspiring, and I am sure it will touch all visitors who view the installations.”
These two dynamic activations are just the latest in The Peninsula’s Art in Resonance program, an ongoing collaboration with artists that enliven hotel properties around the globe with site-specific works. (A decade ago, Amorós created the breast-cancer awareness artwork Pink Lotus for The Peninsula’s New York hotel, while other past Art in Resonance talents include Janet Echelman, Phoebe Hui, and Lachlan Turczan.)