Jaume Plensa, one of the most significant visual artists on the contemporary art scene, presents fifteen of his works in a beautiful retrospective at Espacio Fundación Telefónica in Madrid, two decades after his last solo exhibition.
"My work seeks to reflect each person and invite them to look within. Art must be this catalyst that allows us to build confidence in ourselves and opens a space for discussing ideas, for connecting with vibrations. We live in a time filled with noise that often prevents us from experiencing moments of silence. Art should offer a message of hope and positivity, a reminder that we, as human beings, are more than the violence surrounding us today." — Jaume Plensa
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"My work seeks to reflect each person and invite them to look within. Art must be this catalyst that allows us to build confidence in ourselves and opens a space for discussing ideas, for connecting with vibrations. [...]" -Jaume Plensa
The exhibition, on view until May 4, spans more than three decades of the artist’s career, from the 1990s to the present. The works from his early stages are more conceptual and abstract, while over time they become more figurative and sensual.
This collection offers diverse perspectives on the deep reflection of the human condition that characterizes Plensa’s entire body of work. The show shifts the gaze from the external to the internal, thanks to the artist's evocative creations. Works such as Invisibles (2016), which represents the metamorphosis of the human being through three unfinished faces, suspended in air, frozen in time, and pierced by light.
This collection offers diverse perspectives on the deep reflection of the human condition that characterizes Plensa’s entire body of work. The show shifts the gaze from the external to the internal, thanks to the artist's evocative creations.
María (2018), one of Plensa’s most iconic female sculptures with closed eyes, delves into the beauty and inner world of the human being.
Plensa’s universe revolves around themes such as identity, the ephemeral, silence, and the fragility of the human condition. A clear example is Iris, a commemorative work symbolizing the power of human connection, which has been part of the Distrito Telefónica since April. A smaller-scale model is featured in the exhibition.
Regarding notions of identity and the body, visitors encounter Love Sounds (1998), an installation composed of five alabaster booths in which the sculptor recreates the sound of his own blood flow, inviting each person to listen to their own body.
In the early 1980s, he became particularly interested in volume and space, leading him to explore and experiment with the possibilities of iron through casting. Later, he incorporated other materials such as glass and resin and began experimenting with light and sound.
In the early 1980s, he became particularly interested in volume and space, leading him to explore and experiment with the possibilities of iron through casting.
Water, associated with life and movement, is a key element in Plensa’s work, which is why many of his creations are situated near bodies of water, rivers, or seas.
Silence, seen as a vital necessity, is expressed in series like Who are You? I-VIII (2016): eight small bronze figures covering the organs that symbolize the senses, inviting contemplation in a world full of noise.
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Plensa has received numerous awards throughout his career, and although he has had doubts about whether to continue his work, this year he was honored with the Ojo Crítico Especial in recognition of his significant contribution to culture, thus closing a meaningful chapter in his journey.