Jaume Plensa sculpture celebrating 'diversity of origins' unveiled at University of Barcelona

"We all have roots somewhere," Catalan artist Jaume Plensa explained to media gathered at the University of Barcelona on Wednesday morning. 

"This statue is a celebration of the diversity of our origins as well as our cultures," he explained, referring to his sculpture 'Arrels' ('Roots' in Catalan). 

Created in 2018, the two-meter-tall bronze statue will be exhibited at the University of Barcelona’s City Campus for the next eight years. 

Like many of Plensa's works, it features numbers and letters, in this case from nine alphabets from around the world. 

The artwork was created for the university, which Plensa calls a "house of knowledge and cultural exchange." 

It also pays homage to the 16 columns in the foyer of the Faculty of Philology and Communication where the sculpture is on display, which reminded the artist of roots. 

Plensa is known for his public art, which can be found across the globe, including the US and UK. One of his best-known works in his native Catalonia is 'Carmela,' next to the Palau de la Música in Barcelona.    

In September, a huge heart sculpture was displayed at Hospital Sant Pau in Barcelona for three days to celebrate World Heart Day.