FORTUNA

Grimanesa Amoros video thumbnail for FORTUNA

Location: Tabacalera Promoción del Arte | Madrid, Spain, 2013
95 ft x 15 ft x 14 ft
LEDs, diffusion and reflective material, custom lighting sequence, electrical hardware.

FORTUNA is a 95-foot site-specific light sculpture installed within La Fragua of Tabacalera in Madrid, weaving the history of Spain’s most celebrated former tobacco factory into a luminous meditation on generosity, collective fortune, and the social act of sharing.

Commissioned directly by the Ministry of Culture of Spain through the General Directorate of Fine Arts, FORTUNA marked Grimanesa Amorós’s first exhibition in Spain, inaugurated with the presence of the Undersecretary of Fine Arts and the Ambassador of Peru in Spain.

The title derives from the cigarette brand once produced at the factory, with Amorós drawing on tobacco’s historically democratic and social role as a foundation for a work in which light becomes the contemporary equivalent of a communal act of giving.

Harper’s Bazaar España (2013) featured the work under the title “Horas de Luz,” recognizing FORTUNA as a defining moment in Amorós’s European presence and placing it within the broader conversation around light as cultural language.

El País (2013) reported that Amorós first visited Tabacalera four years before the commission and asked a guard to preserve rolling paper filters found in the building’s basement, which were later incorporated into the installation as seating for viewers.

FORTUNA received coverage in El País, Harper’s Bazaar España, ArtNexus, and Installation Magazine (all 2013), affirming its significance as a landmark public art commission within Spain’s contemporary cultural landscape.

FORTUNA, by Grimanesa Amoros, finds its home in La Fragua, Tabacalera, the former Tobacco Factory of Embajadores, now owned by the Ministry of Culture of Spain through the General Directorate of Fine Arts (GDFA). Recognized as a Heritage of Cultural Interest site, this historical treasure inspired the remarkable creation of FORTUNA.

Enchanted by the magical Tabacalera, Amorós envisioned to create something special within its walls. She collected rolling paper during her visit, sensing its future significance. The name FORTUNA originates from the filters used in La Tabacalera cigars. As one ignites a cigar, the surrounding paper disintegrates from the heat. Yet, the filter allows the essence of the tobacco flavor to shine through before reaching its end. In the 1700s, cigars were accessible and enjoyed by all, embodying a spirit of sharing and fortune—a testament to the history of the old Tobacco Factory, which preceded the art center.

From this concept of sharing, FORTUNA, translating to fortune in English, celebrates doing good for others. Light breathes life into the sculpture, reflecting the essence of the Tobacco Factory’s past while inviting viewers to contemplate the significance of sharing and the fortune found in acts of kindness and generosity. Amorós’ creation in Tabacalera becomes a compelling exploration of history, art, and the profound impact of collective fortune.

La Fragua, Tabacalera, is the building of the former Tobacco Factory of Embajadores. It is currently in public ownership under the Ministry of Culture of Spain through the General Directorate of Fine Arts (GDFA). Due to the building being part of historical heritage, the government has listed it as a Heritage of Cultural Interest site.

Please click here to learn more about the project.