Spain
* August 23, 1955 Barcelona
Jaume Plensa is one of the most important contemporary sculptors, who creates his figures from various materials such as glass, stainless steel or resin. His mostly monumental sculptures are usually placed in prominent locations, in parks, on hills or near the shore, where they immediately captivate the viewer.
In his sculptures, the Spanish artist focuses on the human body as the seat of soul and spirit. His monochrome black or white female heads, which bear names such as Laura, Paula or Awilda, always have a thoughtful or dreamy expression; their eyes are closed all the time. His grid-like figures, which consist of letters and numbers, sit on the floor with their legs drawn up and appear withdrawn and removed from the world.
A work of a completely different kind is Plensa’s Crown Fountain in Chicago’s Millennium Park. The fountain’s pool is framed by two 15-metre-high glass block towers, which alternately display the digital faces of 1,000 Chicago residents. The people were suggested by around 75 ethnic, social and religious organizations and thus represent a reflection of society. The mouths of the projected faces spit water into the pool at regular intervals.
