Dreaming, sculpture in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dreaming is a large sculpture made from polyester resin and marble dust, installed in downtown Toronto in 2020 and situated next to a bench near modern buildings. The abstract figure depicts a stylized face rising approximately 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) high and just over 10 feet (3.3 meters) wide, with a smooth surface that plays with changing light and shadow throughout the day.
The sculpture was created in 2017 by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa and installed in October 2020 as part of a project to improve downtown Toronto. It arrived at a moment when public outdoor spaces had become especially important for reflection and community gathering.
The sculpture depicts an abstract face with closed eyes, inviting passersby to pause and look inward rather than rush past. Its name suggests the inner world of thought and imagination that visitors experience when they notice and sit with this work.
The sculpture sits beside a built-in bench where visitors can rest and view the work comfortably, and it is easily accessible from nearby streets and modern buildings in the area. Since the artwork stands outdoors, you can visit anytime and observe how changing daylight transforms the surface throughout different hours.
The work features a smooth surface with textures that become especially striking through changing light and shadow effects, and Plensa deliberately crafted subtle details and open spaces that appear different at various times of day. Visitors often notice that the seemingly simple form reveals multiple layers upon closer inspection and invites repeated viewings.
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