IUGO
IUGO in the lobby of the 176 E 82nd Street Building in New York
Location: ODA Architecture / Nexus | New York, NY, 2021
Media: Stainless steel, diffusion material and reflective material, LEDs, custom lighting sequence, and electrical hardware
Dimensions:11 ft 6 in x 3 ft x 1 ft 2 in
IUGO, Latin for connect or joint, was created with a specific vision to intertwine New York City’s lights with Tel Aviv’s vibrancy. The inspiration behind this piece stemmed from its location in Manhattan and the essence of Israel itself. Grimanesa Amoros, the visionary artist behind IUGO, recalls her fascination with maps, often studying their structures and drawings during her youth. While brainstorming for this project, she stumbled upon an old map of Manhattan, realizing that the island bore a striking resemblance to the outline of the country of Israel. This intriguing connection between the two locations sparked the inception of a piece that would artfully merge these two cities.
The silkscreens in IUGO were inspired by a profound moment during Amoros’s plane descent into Tel Aviv. Captivated by her surroundings, she peered out the window to witness breathtaking vistas of vineyards, citrus groves, and olive fields sprawled across the landscape. The mesmerizing arrangement of these diverse crops eventually led to the development of the final print in IUGO’s cupolas.
Through IUGO, Grimanesa Amoros unites the spirit of two iconic cities, New York and Tel Aviv, creating an artwork that seamlessly weaves their distinct identities.
Description: IUGO is a light sculpture created for the lobby of the 176 E 82nd Street Building in New York. The building is developed by NEXUS Building Development Group and designed by ODA New York.