Water’s Soul

As someone who has lived in Jersey City for the past 4 years, it is almost impossible to miss the conspicuous sculpture along the Hudson River. I remember the first time I witnessed it; I was taking a walk at the Newport pier after dinner. It was just a faint glimpse in the distance, appearing as a giant white bust from the side. When I finally took a closer look, I could see clearly that it was a monumental statue of a young woman. She was holding her right index finger to her lips in a state of silent contemplation. Its shape was unorthodox, appearing vertically compressed. At that time, I didn’t fully grasp the meaning behind the statue, but I was captivated by its unconventional yet serene and peaceful appearance. It had the power to calm you down and ease your mind.

I looked up the story behind it and found out that the name of the statue is “Water’s Soul” and was created by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. It stands at 80 feet tall, mostly made of marble dust, fiberglass, and polyester resin. According to Plensa himself, “Water is the basis of all life. Water’s soul is asking us for a bit of silence, it is asking to listen to its profound voice that speaks to us about the origin of the world and its memory.” I found this very creative because it was shushing toward the skyline of New York City, the city that “never sleeps”. In bustling cities like NYC, people often become engrossed in the fast-paced environment, leading them to overlook themselves and the nature around them. It almost looks like we all need to slow down and have our own space to self-reflect from time to time, heal the wounds, and become a better version of ourselves. This sculpture is a true embodiment of that peaceful spirit.