Contemporary Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa creates culture at Art on Lake

"Soul XII" by Jaume Plensa Photograph by Stefan van Drake (2011)

A transparent human figure, larger than life, sits on an imposing boulder in a lake in central Budapest, thinking.

Jaume Plensa´ Soul XII, part of his Souls-Nomades cycle, glistens against the ripples of City Park Lake.

Plensa joins 24 other EU contemporary sculptors exhibiting in Art on Lake, launched by the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest on 22 May.

It closes 4 September.

The works are installed on a half-meter deep, 35,000 square-meter body of water adjacent Vajdahunyad  Castle.

Curators for Art on Lake--Krisztina Jerger, Dr. Alexander Tolnay and Peter Fitz-- in their catalogue released this month, write that Plensa "is one of Spain´s, and the world´s, most exceptional sculptors." 

The figure, constructed of interlocking but individual stainless steel letters, creates a transparent form.

“The letters form words, and the words make up thoughts, and the words and thoughts of the most varied languages are combined in the form of the body,” according to Art on Lake´s catalogue.

Plensa described his concept for Soul XII: “The associative relationship between the letters is capable of creating new words, in the same way as cells of the human body create complex organisms.

“Words can combine to produce texts, and with other texts they create a culture.”

Rock on and practice peace and love.

Stefan, the ArtTraveler ™

ArtTraveler notes:

After living at the Hotel Queen Mary in Budapest (3.5 stars), I heartily recommend it: old on the outside, otherwise totally modern (23 rooms); 

The owner and staff are affable and speak English and German. Tel: 0036-1-413-3510; www.hotelqueenmary.hu; info@hotelqueenmary.hu.

Visit Andalusia for a walking holiday or week-long sculpture or mosaics workshop. 

See: www.spanjeanders.nl and www.competafinearts.com.

"Spanish Life Stilled," photograph by Stefan van Drake (2009)

You may reach me at stefanvandrake@gmail.com or by calling (34) 915 067 703 or from the UK at BT landline rates, 0844 774 8349.