Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025

Riyadh's desert, sunrise and sunset inspires Amorós to create AMPLEXUS

Riyadh’s sunrise, sunset and desert dunes were the inspiration to create AMPLEXUS, famous artist Grimanesa Amorós said while explaining her artwork, which is being displayed at Noor Riyadh 2022.
Speaking to Saudi Gazette, the American artist, who was born Peru, stressed that the piece was created specifically for the second edition of Noor Riyadh festival 2022 and is called AMPLEXUS which means in Latin (Embrace). It is an immersive light sculpture installation that embodies global identity.

Amorós said that the lighting sequence in AMPLEXUS that is fullly red was inspired by many sunrises and sunsets that she actually experienced in Riyadh since Oct. 1.

The color of red in AMPLEXUS also had another meaning beside the sunrises and sunsets of Riyadh.

Amorós added that, for her it was also about balance (Yin-Yang), as she noted that red may mean love and passion for some, and for others it may mean blood or something stronger.

The piece communicates directly with the contemporary and historical architecture of the Saudi capital, the viewers, and the surrounding environment by linking Riyadh’s past with its ever-evolving tomorrow, nature, and the digital world.

Moreover, AMPLEXUS takes inspiration from traditional Islamic architecture, reinterpreting it within a digital age.

“One of the reasons that also makes me believe that the meaning of the artwork name is embrace is because the work is being embraced in the pillars of the architecture of the cultural palace in the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) in Riyadh, so they all became one,” Amorós pointed out.

It is noteworthy that AMPLEXUS is being displayed at the Diplomatic Quarter, which is one of the 5 main hubs of the second edition of Noor Riyadh, and it will last until Nov.19. Amorós confirmed that she loved the architecture in DQ, and she thought this would be the perfect place for AMPLEXUS.

The artwork includes tubing structures formed with the columns of the building and reflective material installed on the floor. It will envelop viewers within their cultural heritage, community, and environment. Moreover, AMPLEXUS embraces the collective community consciousness, the city’s architecture, and the untamed magic of the desert itself.

As for the desert dune part in AMPLEXUS, Amorós said that she is obsessed with the desert, noting that she experienced seeing the desert here in Riyadh during her first visit three years ago. “I had the experience to see all the amazing life in Riyadh and seeing that it is part of the desert.”

AMPLEXUS took three weeks to be completed, and over a hundred hours of programming, with the organization of many teams working together to share what Amorós was called (LPP) which means Love, Passion and Perseverance.

She said that she thinks that Love, Passion and Perseverance is something that is part of each one of us and affects every single human being.

Amorós said, ”She is inspired by seeing how people react with AMPLEXUS by taking selfies, and the way they see the lights move.”

“One of the parts that I really liked was the amount of time each individual took to contemplate AMPLEXUS,” she said, adding, “I always love to make people think because by doing so, I inspire them. And inspiring them will make them become more creative in different stages of their life.”

She noted that Noor Riyadh is wonderful because of the way they have energized all the different neighborhoods of Riyadh, and their ability to make people be part of the light, which will enhance their curiosity in their lives.

She also added that the Saudi artists participating in Noor Riyadh are able now to share their work not only with the audience in Riyadh, but also internationally, noting, “It is wonderful how the Saudi artists are reacting when all of this is happening in their own city.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
×