Jaume Plensa and the Nature of Sculpture: “Can You Hear Me?”

Hummingbirds weave through the rusted musical notes of a sculpture at Denver Botanic Gardens as children roll down a nearby hill. For Jaume Plensa, interactions with nature—from small insects to childlike instincts—are an integral part of his work.

Plensa finds beauty in moments when the fluidity of life interacts with his sculptures. This thought is put front and center in the documentary all about his process, “Can You Hear Me?,” screening Thursday, August 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sturm Family Auditorium at the Gardens.

In the film, Plensa shares his views about sculpture being an inherently interactive experience, especially in public spaces. For the artist, sculpture acts as a fixture within the fleeting nature of the world. Things around them change, but the sculptures remain the same. This juxtaposition is where he feels his art is fully realized.   

“Can You Hear Me?” allows viewers to peek into Plensa’s meticulous processes and get a glimpse into the studio where his big ideas start. We get to see him as highly detailed, strict and warm. His artistry lives in the materials he chooses for each sculpture. Many of Plena’s sculptures are open or hollow, such as those you can find in Monet Pool. Here, the viewer’s perception of art and nature changes with the seasons, the time of day and the animals that nest at their bases.

When the exhibits team first installed the bronze Oak series sculptures in the Plains Gardens, the horticulture team had just done a prescriptive burn. Consider, then, the way these statues once towered above charred ashes. Now, later in the summertime, they stand among tall, lush grass. 

Nature interacts with these statues in more intimate ways, too. Spiders nestle within the nostrils and ear canals of these statues. We have dedicated staff who gently remove and rehome them, but that doesn’t keep the insects from their stubbornness, and we find them back in these crevices often.

In “Can You Hear Me?” viewers shouldn’t be surprised to discover how delighted Plensa was with these small rebels nesting in his sculptures. If it were up to him, the spiders would have a permanent home here as a living conversation with his art. Join us for this special film viewing and hear Jaume Plensa’s thoughts on how the nature of a fluid world influences something as solid as sculpture. View the installations, including all three indoor galleries at the Freyer – Newman Center, with a brand-new perspective. 

Get your tickets now.