We dreamed of having a work of art next to the museum that would become part of the city itself. Nades embodies feminine strength, dignity, and beauty. She invites citizens and guests of the city to visit the museum. I believe this sculpture will become one of the symbols of Almaty, shared Nurlan Smagulov, the founder of Almaty Museum of Arts.

Standing at 12 meters tall, Nades depicts the head of a young woman with closed eyes and two long braids. In Plensa’s signature style, the figure radiates a sense of quiet introspection and calm presence. The artist refers to such sculptures as “portraits of the soul” - they seem to mute the city’s noise, encouraging viewers to pause, listen inward, and ask meaningful questions.

The braided hairstyle references traditional Kazakh headdress, seamlessly integrating the sculpture into the cultural and visual landscape of the country. Yet, like many of Plensa’s works, Nades remains intentionally universal: the face has no defining identity, allowing viewers to interpret it freely and project their own emotions and stories onto the figure.

I work with real people - I scan their faces - but what I show is not their portrait. I stretch and transform the image until the identity disappears. I don’t want the viewer to recognize someone else. I want them to recognize something in themselves. These faces become mirrors, explained Jaume Plensa.

Jaume Plensa was born in 1955 in Barcelona, where he lives and works. His sculptures are installed in public spaces around the world from Chicago to Tokyo. Among his most well-known projects are Water’s Soul (2020) in Jersey City, New Jersey; Julia (2018) at Columbus Square in Madrid; Roots (2014) in Tokyo; Soul (2011) in Singapore; and Alchemist (2010) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. Nades, created specifically for Almaty, is one of the artist’s largest works in recent years.

The Almaty Museum of Arts - Kazakhstan’s first private museum dedicated to contemporary art - will open its doors to the public in September 2025, marking a major milestone in the cultural life of Almaty and the Central Asian region.

The museum will present a unique collection assembled by Nurlan Smagulov - entrepreneur, philanthropist, and collector - featuring more than 700 works of modern and contemporary art from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and beyond.

The 10,060 m² building was designed by the British architectural firm Chapman Taylor. Museum planning was led by the international consultancy Lord Cultural Resources, known for projects such as SF MOMA, Guggenheim in Bilbao, Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Centre Pompidou and Louvre in Paris. Engineering solutions were provided by Buro Happold, which has worked on projects such as Louvre Abu Dhabi, the British Museum in London, and LACMA in Los Angeles.