Water, as a medium in public art, is alive—shifting with light, weather, and movement. It
reflects and refracts its surroundings, amplifies sound, and invites touch, creating
spaces that feel responsive and vital. Artists harness water in many forms: as a
sculptural material, as a design element in fountains and reflective pools, as ethereal
mist, or even as the very platform on which works float and unfold. In every expression,
water deepens our connection to nature and transforms ordinary environments into
immersive, multi-sensory experiences that continually renew themselves.
In Tzolkin Light, three Taiwanese artists integrate water with light, time, and ritual.
Inspired by the ancient Mayan calendar, the work layers moving water and shifting
illumination to suggest cycles of renewal. The rippling surface catches and refracts light,
creating patterns that seem to measure time in waves rather than seconds. Here, water
becomes both a mirror of the cosmos and a canvas for reflection, inviting viewers to
contemplate their own place within natural rhythms.
James Tapscott’s Arc Zero Eclipse, located in Seoul, is an exploration of water as both
lens and veil. A circular sculpture, set over a reflective pool, captures and refracts
sunlight while the water below completes the composition with shifting mirrors. The
surface continuously transforms the artwork, at times erasing its edges, at others
doubling its impact. This constant change keeps the experience alive, encouraging
visitors to return again and again to witness new expressions shaped by water and light.
With Fluid Sails, water becomes the very force that animates sculpture. Inspired by
wind-filled sails, the installation translates motion into fluid arcs and trajectories. Jets of
water rise and curve in sync, creating forms that feel both engineered and ephemeral.
The work celebrates water’s ability to embody movement itself—an invisible force made
visible, tactile, and exhilarating. Located in Uman, UA, this work is a marvel of
engineering and artistry, intricately crafted from premium stainless steel.
The Arches, Royal Opera House, Muscat, Oman
This monumental installation by Giles Rayner uses water to create grandeur and drama.
This sculptural installation features two intertwined stainless steel elements resembling
tusks. Cascading sheets of water pour through the towering arches, combining
architectural scale with natural flow. The sound, sparkle, and cool mist bring the
massive stone structure to life, softening its presence while heightening its power. Here,
water is both spectacle and atmosphere, making the public space a site of wonder.
Twist
Twist, by Brad Oldham Sculpture, is intended to invite visitors into the courtyard as well
as to greet employees. The 30-foot-long work is hand-formed, hand-cut, and hand-polished
to a highly reflective finish to reflect the pool of water on which it stands. The
fountain base is made of Fuerstenstein granite from a Kusser-owned quarry in the
Bavarian region of Germany. One of the goals for the artwork was to have a pleasing
auditory experience, so the cut and the design of the marble base were created to
enhance sounds from the water falling and moving throughout the installation.
Key Collaborators
Often, the commissioned artist/team looks to the expertise of collaborators who
understand the intricacies of moving water. This is the expertise of Kusser
FountainWorks is a company that partners with artists and designers to bring water into
their creative visions. Known for their engineering excellence, Kusser helps transform
ambitious concepts into fluid, functioning realities. Their collaborations demonstrate how
technical mastery and artistic imagination can merge, ensuring that water remains one
of the most vital and expressive mediums in public art today.
The Living Medium
These works reveal the profound versatility of water in public art. It is material and
metaphor, structure and spirit. Whether cascading through monumental arches,
spiraling skyward in playful twists, or lying still as a mirror of the cosmos, water turns
ordinary spaces into living environments. As artists continue to sculpt with this
elemental force, they invite us into deeper connections—with art, with nature, and with
each other.
Do you have news, stories, or projects to share? We’d love to hear from you—reach out to editor@codaworx.com.
.