"PACIFIC SOUL" - JOINING TOGETHER HUMANITY THROUGH ART

PACIFIC SOUL, 2018

If you've passed by Broadway and Pacific Highway in downtown San Diego anytime recently, you've probably noticed a monumental 25-foot white sculpture sitting at the base of the newly opened Pacific Gate luxury residential towers.

This sculpture entitled, the Pacific Soul, is the work of internationally renowned Jaume Plensa. He is the recipient of numerous awards and his works can be found in galleries, museums, and outdoor spaces throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. The Crown Fountain, 2004, in Chicago's Millennium Park is one of his many famous projects in public places. Plensa currently resides and works in Barcelona, Spain.

PACIFIC SOUL, 2018

The Pacific Soul is shaped like a crouching human body that is looking toward the nearby Pacific Ocean and is painted in a brilliant white color to reflect the west coast light. It was created with large stainless steel stylized characters from the Latin, Hebrew, Greek, Cyrillic, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese and Hindi alphabets—symbolizing the joining together of humanity through art. The elongated letters at the base give the appearance of roots. The project, commissioned by BOSA Development, opened in January 2018 and was over a year in the making.

Next time you pass by, take time to linger and enjoy this famous work of art that has raised the San Diego public art scene to a new level. 

“....I hope my sculpture will be an icon for the city, embracing the diverse community which is always changing yet always intrinsically connected to the ocean.”

                                                                   -Jaume Plensa

December 5, 2018 Addendum:
Last evening, as I walked from the Santa Fe Train Depot to the Broadway Pier, I passed the Pacific Soul with its bright lights shining. It was spectacular. I'm sharing the photos, including one that I took while standing inside the sculpture looking up at the night sky.