Explore the History and description of this artwork, Guerrero Chimalli.
The sculpture of Guerrero Chimalli is a 50 meters (160 ft) tall red Aztec warrior that holds a Chīmalli and a mace. It was created by Enrique "Sebastián" Carbajal. The sculpture itself weighs around 600 metric tons (590 long tons; 660 short tons), but the concrete plinth (which is 10 m [33 ft] high) and the 65 piles that support them increase the height to 60 m (200 ft) and the weight to 870 t (860 long tons; 960 short tons). Due to its height and color, the sculpture can be seen throughout Chimalhuacán and in adjacent zones.Its construction started during the 2009–2012 municipal administration. It is composed of 33 welded steel pieces painted with red polyurethane paint. The artwork cost US$2.4 million (which would be $3 million in 2022, considering inflation). Additionally, the government remodeled the median strip where it lies; they added a fountain, bridges and trees. These additional works cost $1.4 million ($2 million in 2022).The sculpture was inaugurated on 13 December 2014. It was dedicated to the Tenochcas that defended Tenochtitlan during the Fall of Tenochtitlan. The scultpure has an observation deck at its arm. It is 40 m (130 ft) long, 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) high and it is connected to the base with a staircase composed of 250 steps and an elevator.Sebastián described his work as "an exceptional, attractive and emotional colossus" whose purpose is "to promote the spirit, to understand what we are and to proceed as a society with a modern and universal mentality".
Enrique "Sebastián" Carbajal Chīmalli Sebastián Aztec Tenochcas Tenochtitlan polyurethane Chimalhuacán observation deck Fall of Tenochtitlan