Jaume Plensa Unveils A New Site-Specific Sculpture in New Jersey

“One drop of water is quite alone, like a person,” explains sculptor Jaume Plensa, “but many drops together can create a tidal wave.” Plensa’s contemplations on water led the artist to create his large-scale sculpture called Water’s Soul in 2020. The sculpture will be permanently installed in the Newport development on the Hudson River.

Public art has always been imbued with a unique message and dedication, changing the space where it is installed with additional meaning. In cases of permanent display, sculptures integrate into surroundings, becoming indispensable elements of urban décor. Jaume Plensa’s Water’s Soul will contribute to the specific Newport waterfront community developed by LeFrank and Simon families.

A Tribute to the Hudson River

The large-scale sculpture will be positioned on the waterfront, overlooking the Hudson River. Monumental in scale, it shows the face of a young girl, with her finger raised to her lips, gesturing for quietude. The sculptural portrait invites self-reflection and will serve as a tribute to the Hudson River.

The interest in water for Plensa comes from the meaning he ascribes to it. Water is a proxy for humankind, or as he explains, “water is a marvelous metaphor for humanity.” As many drops of water can make a change, so can individuals. When we “create community, we can build something incredibly powerful.”

Jaume Plensa’s Celebration of Life

Site-specific work Water’s Soul acknowledges the history of the location while it looks at the future. The historic Hudson River waterfront pier has testified to the burgeoning trade in and out of New York Harbour in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The site has changed over the decades from a barren land to welcoming a vibrant and diverse community.

Plensa’s sculpture is a contemplative remark on these changes while also expressing hope for a better world. Climate change is present and ongoing, and we should all join together to protect water as the most precious element, suggests Plensa. “Water is a source of life, and Water’s Soul is a celebration of life,” he concludes.

Water’s Soul at Newport

Jaume Plensa is among the foremost sculptors in the world who create for the public realm. His projects span the globe and are present in various cities worldwide, including Tokyo, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London, among others.

His sculptures activate public spaces and bring people together, helping in creating communities. They show the beauty of humanity, done in glass, bronze, and steel in combination with nonstandard materials such as light, water, and sound. Plensa experiments with conceptual juxtapositions – light and dark, earth and sky, interior and exterior – to create iconic public projects of symbolic richness and intricate energy.

Gray Gallery announced the unveiling of Water’s Soul at Newport development on the Hudson River in Jersey City, New Jersey, for October 21st, 2021.