UROS ISLAND

UROS ISLAND  at the Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in Taichung, Taiwan

Location: Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts | Taichung, Taiwan, 2011
Media: Stainless steel, diffusion material and reflective material, LEDs, custom lighting sequence, and electrical hardware
Dimensions: 13 ft 7 in x 11 ft 2 in x 26 in

As a child growing up along the coast of Peru, Grimanesa Amorós was deeply drawn to the ocean. She was captivated by its rhythms, from the movement of the tides to the delicate formations of bubbles and sea foam. These early impressions left a lasting imprint on her artistic imagination.

Uros Island is inspired by the floating islets of Lake Titicaca, located in southeastern Peru. These islands are hand-constructed by the pre-Incan Uros people, who have long sustained their way of life on the lake’s surface. Made entirely from totora reeds, the islands support homes, boats, watchtowers, and communal spaces. They are a lasting example of Indigenous engineering and ecological adaptation.

Amorós brings these two influences together in Uros Island, a sculptural work that evokes both the organic delicacy of sea foam and the structural ingenuity of the reed islands. The installation appears to rise naturally from the ground, as if emerging from the earth itself. It invites viewers to consider the interplay between nature, culture, and technology.

Future Pass is a collaborative project presented by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in Taichung, the UNEEC Culture and Education Foundation in Taipei, and the Today Art Museum in Beijing. It was realized with support from the Fondazione Claudio Buziol. The exhibition content was curated by Victoria Lu, Creative Director of the Today Art Museum.