A simple dress adorns her. The figure before you is La Mensajera. This bronze statue captures a girl in a moment of gentle release. She stands in Aravaca a district of Madrid. She embodies a poignant connection to the area’s history.
La Mensajera resides in a small square. This square formed from an expansion of Olivo Street. It is near the Telefónica building. The statue was created in 2003 by Pedro Quesada. He comes from a family of architects and artists.
The endearing image of the girl sends messages. She symbolically releases carrier birds. This recalls the historical memory of the place. Aravaca’s post office once stood here. La Mensajera is part of a city initiative. The Ayuntamiento de Madrid sought to promote young sculptors.
Two other sculptures were also winners. Lucía Antonini’s El buzón de las palabras is in Carabanchel. Antoni Sentín’s Tras Julia is on Pez Street. La Mensajera stands on a square base. The base is a solid prismatic plinth. It is made of limestone. A metal plate adorns the front right corner.
The plate bears an inscription. It reads LA MENSAJERA / PEDRO QUESADA / AÑO 2003. The bronze sculpture blends realism and fantasy. The girl wears a simple dress and sandals. Her hair is in a ponytail. She leans forward slightly. Her legs are parted. She looks upward.
Her hands are together. Her palms face up. She is gently coaxing an invisible dove to fly. The statue rests on a stone pedestal. The pedestal sits within an implied enclosure. Two trees and wooden chairs define this space. They create a cozy setting in the square.
La Mensajera’s dimensions are modest. The statue itself measures 1.30 x 0.40 x 0.65 meters. The stone pedestal is 0.85 x 0.80 x 0.80 meters. The statue is municipal property. The girl’s gesture is timeless. She invites us to remember a simpler form of communication. She sends our thoughts soaring.
Consider how messages travel today. They are now instant and digital. La Mensajera reminds us of handwritten letters. Those letters took flight on the wings of birds. She also reminds us of personal connections. These connections were nurtured through patience and care.
As you stand here think about the messages you send. Do they carry the same spirit of hope? Do they carry the same sense of connection? The statue is a tribute to the past. It is also an invitation to the present. It encourages us to communicate with intention. Let La Mensajera inspire your own messages. Let them be filled with kindness.