Sculptures in Merida

One of the pleasant surprises visitors to Merida will find are the immense, larger-than-life sculptures that are located in various parts the city.

The program "Merida, Yucatan, City of Sculpture" has been developed by the Museum of Contemporary Art Ateneo Yucatan (MACAY) in coordination with the Municipal Government. They have chosen the beautiful Paseo de Montejo Avenue, constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, as the open-air show room for the program.

For the past two years there have been outstanding exhibitions of immense sculptures by both national and international artists. Thanks to this, both locals and guests can enjoy not only the impressive architecture of the buildings on the Paseo de Montjeo, but now they can also admire the sculptures of various themes and techniques. Through this program everyone now has the chance to having immediate access to these works of art in this historic open-air museum.

Tittle: Ciclo 90 grados
Author: Kaoru Matsumoto

The plan is that each year a different country will be showcased and the exhibitions will be open for ten months. Thirty North American sculptors and twenty Mexican sculptors will be showing from April 2005 in the United States exhibition. Spain will show in 2006 and Japan in 2007. Mexican artists are invited to show with each country thus creating an ambiance of sharing and unity.

Another open-air exhibit area for sculptures is the Pasaje de la Revolución (Revolution Passage), the space just south of the Main Plaza between two colonial buildings - the Cathedral and the ex-Bishop Palace Ateneo Peninsular where the MACAY Museum is now housed. Built in 1915, the Passage fell into wreck and ruin until it was reconstructed a few years ago in a joint effort by the Municipal Government and the MACAY Museum. It was then turned it into a sculptor's exhibit space where all can enjoy this art form.

Above: One of the many exhibits in the Pasaje de la Revolución.

As you will see, the dream to bring art outside of the museum doors and let it be present in the everyday lives of Merida's residents and visitors has been achieved. The city plans to expand this dream in the future with the construction of the Yucatan Sculptor's Park that will be a permanent home of the works of the First International Open Air Bienal of Monumental Sculpture.

The MACAY wants culture and art to be an everyday part of ones life experience and is achieving this through the program "Merida, Yucatan, City of Sculpture". Visitors and residents alike are grateful to the voluntary and generous participation of the people who back and promote art for the benefit of mankind.

For more information on all of Merida's museums, please see our Museum page.

To read in Spanish click here

Tittle: Escalera - Author:Joel Martínez