"Awilda", Jaume Plensa

8th art project Salzburg Walk of Modern Art - Würth Collection: Jaume Plensa, "Awilda" (2010) at "Dietrichsruh", Universität of Salzburg.

Since 2010, the sculpture Awilda by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa has stood in the courtyard of the Faculty of Law in Salzburg. This five-meter-high work of art depicts a young girl with her eyes closed, radiating calm, concentration, and a dreamlike quality.

Elegance in marble

The Catalan artist Jaume Plensa has created his sculpture entitled "Awilda" for the "Dietrichsruh" at Salzburg University. This monumental five metre-high bust of the head of a young girl with Carribbean features is made of white Spanish marble.

An art-work and its environment

The "Dietrichsruh", an open square, bustling with activity, a meeting place for students from all over the world, provides the perfect setting for his "rootless" Awilda. Seemingly rising from the ground, the figure evokes proximity and distance in equal measure. It radiates preternatural tranquility and profound complexity. Jaume Plensa sculpted his work from 20 individual slabs of marble. This makes the head appear to oscillate and spiral upwards into the sky in a floating wave-like movement.

The artist

Jaume Plensa was born in Barcelona in 1955 and is considered one of the most important contemporary sculptors in Europe. His works can be seen in public spaces around the world, from Chicago to Tokyo. Plensa often combines technique and poetry, body and sound. The central theme of his art is humanity's spiritual nature. His sculptures appear reduced and almost weightless, opening spaces for stillness, reflection, and inner experience.

The idea behind the Walk of Modern Art

Initiated by the Salzburg Foundation, the Walk of Modern Art makes contemporary art accessible to everyone. Created between 2002 and 2019, the works by international artists such as James Turrell, Marina Abramović, Markus Lüpertz, and Brigitte Kowanz explore the intersection of history, urban architecture, and contemporary art.

Practical information

- The artworks of the Walk of Modern Art Salzburg are freely accessible.
- The duration of the walk is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.