Jaume Plensa is an internationally known artist for his portrayals of the human face by sculpture and innovative technological methods.
Plensa is the focus of a solo exhibition called “Nocturne” at Gray Warehouse in Chicago, with the artist showcasing a new body of work.
Plensa installs a dynamic range of sculptural portraits in stone, glass, steel and bronze in the Gray Warehouse’s spaces. The centerpiece of the presentation features a nine-foot-tall basalt sculpture named Minna that depicts a young woman with her eyes closed in a state of rest. A total of nine pieces are on display. “Whether embracing or opposing the intrinsic qualities of his materials, Plensa’s exhibition of sculptural portraits symbolizes the potential for hope to emerge from a place of total darkness,” said the gallery in a statement. “With deep material awareness, Plensa offers the illusion of a weightless form, fabricating and rendering otherwise monumental works into light, airy apparitions.”
Another highlight in the presentation is a series of five bronze portraits: Anna, Irma, Laura, Lou and Rui Rui. The works are displayed closely together as if they are having an intimate conversation with each bronze head rendered in a distinct textured surface. ““Every time I do a portrait, soon after, in a way, the person no longer exists,” described the artist.
Get a closer look at “Nocturne” in the slideshow above and then visit Gray Warehouse’s website for more information. The exhibition is on view until January 9, 2021.