Standing before Escultura Totémica I, I wonder if you can feel the echoes of ancient totems. This metal sculpture stands tall in the Parque Lineal de Palomeras. It is not just metal. It’s a modern take on age-old symbols.
Escultura Totémica I was created in 1987. Fernando González Gortázar designed it. He was a Mexican architect, urban planner and sculptor. The Instituto de la Vivienda de Madrid commissioned the artwork. It was part of the Palomeras remodeling.
The park itself was designed to be a green barrier. It separates the neighborhood from the M-40 highway. Manuel Paredes Grosso designed the park. Leandro Silva Delgado was the landscape architect. Arturo Soto Cuesta and José Luis Orgaz were the engineers. The park was built between 1982 and 1988.
The Escultura Totémica I is more than just a sculpture. It is a visual landmark. It is made of metal and looks abstract and geometric. Twelve parallel prisms are woven together visually. They are grouped in four levels of three. This arrangement creates a frieze effect.
González Gortázar often used similar designs. He created them in Mexico during the 1980s. This sculpture connects Madrid to his earlier works. Look closely at the base. You will see the artist’s signature. It is “gf / 1987” in superimposed letters.
The Escultura Totémica I is made of weathering steel. It stands 5.20 meters tall. It is 1.35 meters wide and deep. The sculpture sits in a circular plaza. The plaza is 30 meters in diameter. It has a sandy ground with benches and a play area.
Did you notice the nearby pond? The Escultura Totémica I is designed to complement it. The sculpture and the pond form a unified composition. This artwork is owned by the city. It marks the Parque Lineal de Palomeras.
As you gaze at Escultura Totémica I, consider its purpose. It bridges the past and present. It provides green space in an urban area. It is a testament to art’s role in city planning.