Light-Based Sculpture

Created by internationally acclaimed artist Jen Lewin, “Phronesis” sits on the South Plaza of the Main Library. Seven of the sculpture’s light pillars are installed outside the Library’s Vine Street entrance, and a single interior light pillar is immediately inside the building’s atrium.

Derived from Ancient Greek, the word phronesis is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, opens a new window as “understanding” and “practical judgement.”

With Phronesis, Lewin looks both into the past and the future. Inspired by the search of Dr. Stephen Bertman, a professor of Languages, Literature, and Cultures at the University of Windsor in Canada, Lewin crafted eight large illuminated sculptures, each representing a guiding principle of ancient Greek wisdom:

Humanism
The Pursuit of Excellence
The Practice of Moderation
Self-Knowledge
Rationalism
Restless Curiosity
The Love of Freedom
Individualism

These principles and their ancient roots remind us of the vast breadth of human knowledge, curiosity, and history, much of which is preserved and shared through the Library.

ArtWorks is proud to have led the call to artists for this project. Phronesis was created in partnership with Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library. It is located at 800 Vine Street in downtown Cincinnati.