The artwork “Water Tower,” created by Rachel Whiteread in 1998, exemplifies the movements of Conceptual Art and Post-Minimalism within the sculpture genre. This piece situates itself within the broader context of Whiteread’s oeuvre, which often explores the negative space of objects and architectural forms.
In the artwork, a translucent tank replicates the form of a traditional urban water tower, propped upon a steel black framework. The material choice lends an ethereal quality to the structure, standing in stark contrast to the stark, high-rise buildings surrounding it. The piece is set atop a rooftop, isolated yet integrally connected to the architectural skyline of the city. Whiteread’s “Water Tower” brings attention to the overlooked and often invisible aspects of urban infrastructure, transforming a mundane element of the city’s landscape into a subject of contemplation and aesthetic appreciation.