Looking at Riley's painting from a distance, the first thought as a viewer is that the colours are a harmonious combination of blue, magenta, green and orange, and that the artist has succeeded in creating an aesthetically pleasing finished piece of work. However, after approaching the painting it became clear that there was a reason for the piece of work, which turned it from a 'pretty picture' into a valuable piece of fine art painting.
Inspired by a visit to Egypt between 1979 and 1981, Riley created a series of paintings based on the colours of the tombs that she had seen while there, and the name of this painting was inspired by the name of the hotel in which she stayed. What is so effective about her work is the incredibly simplistic nature of it. Based on colour samples from the places that she visited, she has managed to create work both with meaning and purpose and that is visually attractive, proving that sometimes meaning is a vital part of understanding art.
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