Jaume Plensa
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jaume Plensa is a Spanish artist, born in Barcelona in 1955, known for large-scale sculptures that explore the human figure, language, and spirituality. His work often combines materials such as steel, glass, resin, and light, forming serene faces or seated figures that convey stillness and introspection. Many of his sculptures incorporate letters from multiple alphabets, suggesting a universal form of communication beyond words. Plensa’s installations are frequently placed in public spaces, where their scale and calm presence contrast with busy urban environments. Notable works include Crown Fountain in Chicago and numerous portrait heads installed worldwide. Through his practice, he investigates the relationship between body, mind, and place, emphasizing silence, reflection, and shared human experience.
PROJECTS:
SENNA
Bordeaux - France
ACCESS:
FREE: Located in a public plaza.
ADDRESS:
54 Pl. de la Comédie, 33000 Bordeaux, France
DISCRIPTION:
Sanna by Jaume Plensa is a large-scale public sculpture installed in France, continuing the artist’s series of elongated female portraits. Cast in metal, the work presents a calm, closed-eyed face that emphasizes introspection and inner life. Its vertical distortion stretches the features, giving the figure an otherworldly, almost weightless presence. As with many of Plensa’s works, the surface is smooth and minimally detailed, directing attention to expression rather than individuality. Positioned outdoors, the sculpture interacts with changing light and atmosphere, reinforcing themes of silence, contemplation, and the shared human condition.
NOTES:
Plensa digitally stretches the original portrait, creating a dreamlike distortion that emphasizes inner presence over realistic likeness. Its closed eyes are a recurring motif in his work, meant to suggest introspection and a shared, universal sense of calm rather than a specific individual identity.
IMAGE CREDITS:
Images (1-3) Joseph Bracons (4) Pat M (5) Hervé Simon
OGIJIMA’S SOUL
Ogijima - Japan
ADDRESS:
1986 Ogichō, Takamatsu, Kagawa 760-0091, Japan
ACCESS:
For the use of ferry customers. You will likely enter and exit the island through the structure when visiting.
DISCRIPTION:
Ogijima’s Soul by Jaume Plensa, created for the Setouchi Triennale in 2010, serves as a small community pavilion on the island of Ogijima, Japan. The structure is formed from a delicate lattice of white characters drawn from multiple alphabets, wrapping a simple geometric frame. This open skin filters light and air while casting shifting shadows across the ground and interior. Positioned near the harbor, it functions as both a gathering place and a symbolic gateway for visitors arriving by boat. The use of layered scripts reflects Plensa’s interest in language as a shared human thread beyond specific cultures.
NOTES:
There are small works of art on the island, however this is as of writing this the most noteworthy work of art/architecture on this specific island.
IMAGE CREDITS:
There are small works of art on the island, however this is as of writing this the most noteworthy work of art/architecture on this specific island.
