A Coastal Giant Takes a Breath
Picture this: an 80‑foot, all‑in‑white colossal head sits on the Hudson, fingers curled like a tongue‑in‑cheek whisper, and it’s begging New York City to slow down and actually hear the water.
Why Is There a Talking Statue?
Artist Jaume Plensa, a Barcelona native, says the splash of water through the statue’s heels makes “a special sound, very special.” He calls the piece Water’s Soul – his biggest canvas yet.
In plain, everyday terms, his message is:
- Stop – wind down the city noise.
- Be still – so you can feel the river’s whisper.
- Listen – the water’s talking, and it’s saying, “Hey, pay attention to us.”
Where Is This Majestic Head?
The snowy giant looks out over the glassy water above Jersey City’s fast‑growing Newport waterfront. She’s practically strolling across the sky, facing a forest of skyscrapers taller than your favorite cat in a skyscraper colony.
Throw in some geography: she’s right across from Greenwich Village, and about four miles — think a big, quiet ferry ride — from the Statue of Liberty, the Bronx‑in‑world’s classic guard.
Why This is a Must‑See
On a bustling day, step back, pause, and let the statue’s hush pull you into a conversation with the city’s hidden soundtrack. It’s a good reminder that even in a metropolis built on chaos, there’s still room for quiet, laughter, and a little oddity at the water’s edge.
<img alt="" data-caption="Artist Jaume Plensa stands near his statue "Water's Soul" in Jersey City, New Jersey, US, on Oct 14, 2021.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”60b43bd4-5116-4cca-86c8-724de50aa16c” src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/statute%202.jpg”/>
Water’s Soul: James Plensa’s Quiet Controversy
Picture this: the first time James Plensa saw his giant sculpture completely put together, the silence he was hoping for was swamped by the rustle of diesel engines at Hoboken’s train terminal, the hiss of helicopters overhead, and the giggles of kids in strollers strolling by the river walk. Pretty much the soundtrack of a city that never switches off the volume.
But Plensa isn’t after the usual noise of traffic or helicopters. He’s hunting the frantic chatter of constant data and endless notifications. “I’m talking about the noise of information and messages to us,” he told us at Galerie Lelong Co in New York, where his latest show opens on October 29.
At 66, Plensa was commissioned two years ago to build a massive piece for LeFrak and Simon Property Group, who have been sprucing up the area that dips into the river. The piece, christened “Water ’Soul”, was created from a composite of polyester resin, fiberglass, and marble dust back in his Barcelona studio. To get it to its final spot in Jersey City, he shipped it across 23 fat, 40‑foot containers—think of them as big, rooftop‑ready room‑spanners.
It’s a real‑life model that was scanned and translated into a towering, almost ghost‑like silhouette that stretches across the river. Plensa’s hope? That we pause, look, and really listen—not just to the city’s busyness but to the quiet whispers of the water itself.
Locals intrigued
The Enigmatic Sculpture that’s Begging for Attention
It’s almost Sunday, and a giant new piece is set to go on display tomorrow. From the curb to the subway, people are out at their window expectations—each hoping for a story behind the statue’s curious posture.
What’s the Mystery?
- Cleveland Rice (63) – a city employee who’s seen the work in progress since August: “Why is she shushing?”
- William Schoentube (53) – a New Jersey Transit conductor: “I’m sure there’s gotta be some meaning behind this.”
- Huan Yan (31) – a software engineer: “It’s probably a quiet plea to New York City, telling it to keep this corner a secret because we don’t want to flood it with commuters.”
- Miriam (46) – a travel agent, window‑sight negotiator: thumb‑down. “It just doesn’t fit in the whole atmosphere.”
Artist’s Take
Plensa, a veteran of global exhibitions, says acceptance takes time, especially when art collides with the bustling cityscape.
“In public space, the piece is the piece, and it’s competing with so many other objects.
He has quite the resume—Crown Fountain in Chicago’s Millennium Park is a memorable two‑side, 50‑foot glass tower with people‑like LED faces and watery mash‑ups. Even the launch back in 2004 was a mixed reaction, but now it’s a go‑to spot.
Why the Confusion?
Do we all see the statue as a mysterious, hushed narrative, or as a random geometric orphan? The answer is still up in the air—and no UFO although the shape is a little out of this world.
Not a message to Manhattan
Plensa said the sculpture is not sending a message to Manhattan, and she is not “shushing,” but silently calling for quiet.
Like many of Plensa’s works, including several new pieces at the Galerie Lelong show, “Water’s Soul” is the elongated head of a woman with closed eyes.
“In many of my pieces I’m asking the viewer: Close your eyes and look inside yourself, because you have an amazing quantity of beauty hidden inside,” he said.
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His pieces mostly feature women, he says, because he sees life and the world as female, while “boys are just an accident – a very nice accident, but an accident.”
“Water’s Soul” can best be viewed from the river, he said.
“It’s a piece which is very much paying homage to water, and it’s in the water where you can enjoy it more,” he said.
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