The Universidad Nacional Autónomo de México (UNAM) is Mexico's biggest and most prestigious public university, but it is much more than that. In 2007, the specially-built campus in the south of Mexico City called the University City, was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architecture and for the murals created by leading Mexican muralists. It also has a large ecological reserve featuring the Espacio Escultórico, where art is integrated into nature and the environment. For Photo Walk Nº88, we went to check out these areas and photograph them, capturing university life as well.We met at the main university campus and learned about the history of the UNAM which has around 350,000 students and 40,000 academics. Next we photographed the unique murals by Juan O'Gorman on the four sides of the Central Library. Made entirely of small coloured stones, this is one of the largest murals in Mexico and depicts pre-Hispanic history, Colonial times, the Modern World and the University. The other murals we saw were by David Siqueiros, José Chavez Morado and one by Diego Rivera on the outside of the Olympic Stadium. As we wandered around the very open and spacious campus, we also took photos of the 1950s architecture (functionalism approach) and university life.We then made our way by car to the Espacio Escultórico, still within the extensive grounds of the Ciudad Universitaria. Here the ancient solidified lava bed left behind by the Xitle volcano eruption and its natural environment have been conserved from development. First, we walked to the spectacular 120-metre circular sculpture which looked rather other-worldly and certainly not something you would expect to find among the concrete spread of Mexico City. Then we crossed over the road to where a series of gigantic metallic and concrete structures loomed out of the vegetation.The weather was spectacular and the blue skies made a perfect backdrop for our photos, although it was a little hot to wander around where there wasn't any shade.
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Margaret MetcalfeBorn to travel, explore and share photos and experiences Archives
May 2019
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