Guerrero Chimalli
Sculpture in the State of Mexico From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Guerrero Chimalli (Spanish: [ɡeˈreɾo tʃiˈmali] ; "Shield Warrior") is an outdoor steel sculpture by Enrique "Sebastián" Carbajal, installed along Bordo de Xochiaca Avenue, in Chimalhuacán, State of Mexico. It is a 60 meters (200 ft) artwork that depicts an indigenous warrior holding a Chīmalli (a type of shield) and a mace. The plinth serves as a museum and the sculpture as an observation deck.[1]
| Guerrero Chimalli | |
|---|---|
 The sculpture in 2018 (the unrelated In Search of the Truth project is seen at the entrance) | |
 Location | |
| Artist | Sebastián |
| Year | 2014 |
| Medium | Steel |
| Dimensions | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Weight | 870 t (860 long tons; 960 short tons) |
| Location | Chimalhuacán |
| 19°24′47″N 98°59′02″W | |
| Website | experiencia.edomex.gob.mx |
.jpg)
The sculpture of Guerrero Chimalli is a 50 meters (160 ft) tall red Aztec warrior that holds a Chīmalli and a mace. It was created by Enrique "Sebastián" Carbajal. The sculpture itself weighs around 600 metric tons (590 long tons; 660 short tons), but the concrete plinth (which is 10 m [33 ft] high) and the 65 piles that support them increase the height to 60 m (200 ft) and the weight to 870 t (860 long tons; 960 short tons). Due to its height and color, the sculpture can be seen throughout Chimalhuacán and in adjacent zones.[2]
Its construction started during the 2009–2012 municipal administration.[2] It is composed of 33 welded steel pieces painted with red polyurethane paint. The artwork cost US$2.4 million (which would be $3 million in 2023, considering inflation). Additionally, the government remodeled the median strip where it lies; they added a fountain, bridges and trees. These additional works cost $1.4 million ($2 million in 2023).[3]
The sculpture was inaugurated on 13 December 2014.[4] It was dedicated to the Tenochcas that defended Tenochtitlan during the Fall of Tenochtitlan.[2] The scultpure has an observation deck at its arm. It is 40 m (130 ft) long, 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) high and it is connected to the base with a staircase composed of 250 steps and an elevator.[5][6]
Sebastián described his work as "an exceptional, attractive and emotional colossus" whose purpose is "to promote the spirit, to understand what we are and to proceed as a society with a modern and universal mentality".[7]
Like most of Sebastián's works, Guerrero Chimalli received mixed reactions to the artist's style.[8] It additionally received criticism due to its cost as half of the municipality's population lives in some degree of poverty.[9] According to Sebastián, the most expensive investment were the cranes that placed each piece.[10] It was also compared to Mazinger Z, Ultraman, Godzilla and Transformers.[2][3] Gil Gamés wrote for El Financiero: "You spot it from a distance and the warrior is ugly, but if you get closer it is simply hideous".[11] Sebastián compared the criticism the sculpture received with similar opinions the Eiffel Tower experienced when it was inaugurated.[10]
- Coyote en Ayuno, another sculpture by Sebastián in the neighboring municipality of Nezahualcóyotl.
- List of tallest statues
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
