Naples: Silent Hortense is in Piazza Municipio

Here we are again in Piazza Municipio in Naples, to tell you about the new monumental work installed there, following the much-discussed Venere degli stracci and Tu si' na cosa grande, the latter with its scandalous phallic-like shape.

We're talking about Silent Hortense, created by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa, creator of several monumental works located in museums and public spaces in Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, New York, Dallas, Taipei, Chicago, Malmoe, and Mexico City.

The work is made of polyester resin and sits on a wood and steel base, reaching a height of nine meters. Vincenzo Trione, the mayor's advisor for contemporary art, describes it as follows:

Silence. This is the dimension evoked by the work of one of today's greatest sculptors. In the heart of Piazza Municipio, Jaume Plensa has placed a secular deity, relying on the artifice to which he has remained faithful for years. After portraying a young model in his studio, he made a maquette of her. This, he then expanded to a monumental scale. [...]

Her face is partially covered by her hands, which closely resemble archaeological finds. It's unclear whether those limbs belong to Hortense or someone else. Intersecting, they evoke the need to reaffirm the reasons for silence today, understood not as a renunciation of expression, nor as an obstacle, nor even as a barrier, but as an urgency. [...]

Let's look at some images of this work, which is truly impressive up close:

SILENT HORTENSE - Piazza Municipio - Naples

What else is there to add? The work will remain on display until August 19th, the Metro Line 1 stop is MUNICIPIO, and the square has an accessible Japanese restaurant with disabled restrooms.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!!