I fell in love with this campus the more time I spent within its boundaries. Firstly, there are several dominant murals, but there are also several "hidden" ones that I stumbled across while exploring. The Modernist buildings really compliment each other, and though often of eclectic designs, really are special taken as a whole. UNAM is an institution rich in History, with multiple Presidents of Mexico and Latin America being alumni, as well as writers, artists, and filmmakers such as Alfonso Cuarón. I could imagine walking the grounds and attending classes in these illustrious steel and glass buildings.
The spatial composition of the campus, along with the work done by dozens of engineers, artists, and architects make UNAM unique. I personally have found World Heritage properties associated with 20th-century modernism to be especially rewarding spaces to enter and to photograph.
'The Conquer of Energy' mural by José Chávez Morado
During my visit on a Sunday afternoon, there were several students playing Quidditch. (Yes, that Quidditch!) The sky was blue, the weather was pleasant, and I had all these structures and murals largely to myself. My spouse and I also benefitted from the hospitality so often found in Mexico. We somehow got mixed up with directions and a kind woman not only pointed us in the right direction, but gave us a lift, dropping us off at one of the the University entry points.
As an educator, the OUV here aligns with many values I share and hold dear. UNAM was designed within the "framework of universal ideals and values related to access to education, improvement of quality of life, integral intellectual and physical education and integration between urbanism, architecture and fine arts" and "progress of humankind through education". The professionals who created this space left a lasting legacy. Artists like José Chávez Morado are no less worthy of admiration or respect as the generations that came before in Mexico, such as Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros.
Comments
No comments yet.