Where do you even begin with something like this? Sometime in 1945 Edward James happened upon the Mexican town of Xilitla in the search for a location to “express his diverse esoteric interests.” I’m not going to try and give you some kind of fluffy artistic evaluation or insight as to what we saw today; it’s not my style. However, Las Pozas is one of the single most interesting things that I have ever stood in the presence of. It was magical. Enjoy.
You just wander from building to building, sculpture to sculpture on concrete staircases and stone walkways over 80 acres.
There are 36 notable structures and who knows how many smaller sculptures, etc..
All of the concrete was poured into wooden forms designed by Jose Aguilar Camacho. The forms themselves are considered works of art.
Two works of art in completely different styles in the same place. Weird.
How in the world do you work with concrete on this scale in the middle of the jungle? That’s one of the things that fascinates me about this place, the logistics. It’s literally at the end of a gravel road at the bottom of a mountain. It would be tough to get a regular car, like a ford focus, down there as it is.
Keli says these might be passion fruits. She says if I eat them….
I’m not sure is this is left over construction or the conservation efforts of the Fondo Xilitla
Lots of spideys. This one is eating a bee.
This world is not cut out for tall people.
Yep, it’s about 40’ tall and made entirely of concrete.
Originally, the watered flowed through the sculpture at the bottom, but erosion has clogged all but a few of the passageways.
That signs says: Casa de Ocelot
Broken stairway to?
Xilitla, Mexico in the distance.
These photos hardly do the place justice. Words don’t do the place justice. We just feel like lucky boys and girls to be on the planet having experienced this today. I wish that there were some way to convey the enormity of Las Pozas.
Kyle says
That looks like the kind of place I love to explore. Jealousy ensues….be safe and I can’t wait to read more!
-Kyle
Brandon Edward says
Man Kyle, you could go for days and never see the whole of it. It’s really out of this world.