Foro Universal and Siqueiros Mural
The main feature of the complex is the Foro Universal, which contains Siquiero´s mural called “La Marcha de la Humanidad” (The March of Humanity). The panels on the Foro plus the exterior work measure 8,700m2, the largest mural in the world. The Foro takes up most of the interior space, covered by a vault which measures 900m2 and with 2,400m2 of its walls and ceiling covered by Siquieros’ work. There are seven main panels to the work. Panel 1 is dedicated to man representing the creation, domination and use of science. Panel 2 has three main elements: a volcano, a nahual and a tree. Panel 3 consists of an amate tree, a “leader” and a recently sprouted tree. Panel 4 is called “The Woman” and represents peace, culture and harmony in a future society. Panel 5 contains seven compositions which are named “Primitive man,” “The proletariat woman pregnant,” “The Crow Man,” “The march of the mothers,” “The mix of races,” “The lynched black” and “The Pimas and the Yaquis.” Panel 6 has three main elements of “The demagogue,” “Men, women and children” and “The leader.” Panel 7 is painted on the ceiling and consists of four main elements called “The eagle,” “The red star,” “The astronauts” and “The white star.” Visitors to see the mural can also experience a sound and light show about the work, with narration in the voice of Siqueiros. For this show, the stage can hold up to 1000 people and rotates towards the different sections of the mural.
The building also contains a theatre, two joined galleries and other facilities. The Teatro Manuel Suárez is one of few circular Greek style theatres in the world. This theatre has 500 seats and has hosted a number of works acted by famous actors. This has included works such as “Diary of a Madman” by Nikolai Gogol, performed by actor Carlos Ancira . The two galleries named after Dr. Atl and Mario Orozco Rivera. The first serves at the site museum with a space of 145m2. Its permanent exhibit consists of photographs and models and sketches related to the painting of the site’s mural. It also contains biographical information in the form of documents and photographs of Manuel Suárez y Suárez, the sponsor of the Polyforum along with that of Siqueiros. The gallery contains a statue of Manuel Suárez y Suárez and personal effects of Siqueiros. The second dedicated to Orozco Rivera measures 169m2 and is dedicated to temporary exhibits of painting, sculpture and photography. One temporary exhibit held in 2011 was called “My Trend Week” designed to display the works of new artistic talent in architecture as well as graphic, industrial and interior design. In 2011, the two galleries were linked and renovated with a modern system of lighting and ultraviolet film on its glass and other elements designed to protect the works shown there. The works are set against white, curved walls with a total exhibition space of just over 300m2. The combined space has been tentatively renamed “Espacio de Arte Emergente” (Emerging Art Space) .
Read more about this topic: Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros
Famous quotes containing the words universal and/or mural:
“We call contrary to nature what happens contrary to custom; nothing is anything but according to nature, whatever it may be, Let this universal and natural reason drive out of us the error and astonishment that novelty brings us.”
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)
“And each of the huge white creatures was huger than fourscore men;
The tops of their ears were feathered, their hands were the claws of birds,
And, shaking the plumes of the grasses and the leaves of the mural glen,
The breathing came from those bodies, long warless, grown whiter than curds.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)