Jaume Plensa: Water’s Soul

The exhibition, curated by Jean Blanchaert and organised by FAI in collaboration with Fondazione Berengo, marks the return of Spanish artist Jaume Plensa to his beloved Venetian lagoon. It traces the evolution of his glass creations, exploring his growing dialogue with the material to create contemplative portraits that invite reflection.

Plensa has long explored the relationship between body, word, and spirit through works that combine monumentality with poetic lightness. Glass, a living and mutable material, reflects the light and fluidity of Venice’s waters, creating an intimate dialogue with its surroundings. Visitors are welcomed by “Laguna”, a unique work conceived as a tribute to Venice: a water-coloured slab with two heads in conversation, positioned alongside Alberto Viani’s Nudo al sole, a sculpture on black marble lightly veiled with water. The work giving the exhibition its title, “Water’s Soul”, similarly honours the soul of the city.

Seventeen sculptures, installed in dialogue with Carlo Scarpa’s Negozio Olivetti, were produced in Murano using the casting technique: molten glass poured into wax models, shaped by Plensa and master glassmakers, then cast in plaster to solidify over approximately two months.
The installation engages fully with Scarpa’s space, both aesthetically and conceptually. Most works sit on tables and shelves that once held Olivetti calculators, creating a dialogue between the sculptures and the preserved typewriters. This careful arrangement reflects FAI’s aim to preserve and enhance the site, respecting its historical identity while celebrating its original cultural vocation.