Water's Soul, Public art sculpture in Newport, United States
Water's Soul is a white sculpture made of polyester resin, fiberglass, and marble dust on the Hudson River in Jersey City and depicts a human form roughly 80 feet tall with closed eyes. The figure raises one finger to its lips and stands on a former industrial pier with a paved walkway along the water.
The sculpture was fabricated in Barcelona and shipped in 23 containers to Jersey City before being assembled on the former industrial site. In October 2021, the work opened to the public and marked the transformation of this waterfront area.
Artist Jaume Plensa drew inspiration from water as a life source and chose a gesture of silence to suggest inner connection. The figure invites visitors to reflect on the dialogue between people and nature along the riverfront.
The sculpture stands at 1 Park Lane South and can be reached via PATH trains, ferries, or light rail. A landscaped path along the Hudson offers direct access to the figure with an open view toward Manhattan.
The white marble dust surface gives the figure a matte glow and allows it to shift in tone during sunrise and sunset. Because of its proximity to the water, light reflects on both the sculpture and the Hudson at the same time.
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