About this place
She Changes is a large public sculpture in Porto, on the border with Matosinhos, standing in Praça Cidade do Salvador beside the Atlantic. Locally everyone calls it "Anémona", the anemone. American artist Janet Echelman designed it, and it was her first permanent public installation.
What will you see?
Three steel poles of different heights, roughly 25 to 50 metres, carry a steel ring weighing about 20 tonnes and measuring more than 40 metres across. The ring hangs at a tilt, and a huge net of varying density and colour is stretched from it. Because the net answers every gust of wind, the shape never looks quite the same twice, which explains the title.
Why is it called Anémona?
The swaying net recalls the tentacles of a sea anemone. It also echoes fishing nets, a nod to the fishing community of Matosinhos, one of the region's key fishing ports.
What is its history?
The work went up in the mid-2000s; sources give either 2004 or 2005. Sea weather wore down the original net quickly, and deterioration was reported from about 2007. Under an agreement with the city, the artist paid for a replacement. The netting came down for repairs in October 2020 and a new one was hung in April 2021.
How do you get there?
The sculpture sits at a busy coastal junction, so it is easy to reach by car or taxi. It also fits neatly into a walk along the Matosinhos waterfront. The city beach and the nearby memorial to those lost at sea are a short stroll away.
When should you go?
Sunrise and sunset suit it best, when the colours of the net deepen. After dark there is lighting, although the garden lights beneath it were vandalised in the past, so check the current state before planning an evening visit. Access is free, since it is an open public space.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance fee?
No. It is an open urban square and you can see the sculpture at any hour.
How long does a visit take?
Usually 15 to 30 minutes, longer if you pair it with a promenade walk or the beach.
Who made it?
Janet Echelman, known for soft, net-based installations suspended above cities. She Changes was her first permanent public commission.
Why does it move?
The net hangs freely from the steel ring and reacts to the ocean wind, so its form shifts from day to day.
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