Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

'The Route of Friendship': Sculpture

1970; The MIT Press; Volume: 3; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1572256

1530-9282

Mathias Goeritz,

Photographic and Visual Arts

This article contains a discussion of the idea, planning and execution of eighteen monumental sculptures along the Anillo Periferico, on both sides of the Olympic Village for the XIXth Olympiad at Mexico City in 1968. This part of the Periferico is called the ‘Route of Friendship’. A report is also made on the organization of the International Meeting of Sculptors held in Mexico City on 17 June 1968. The author, who was in charge of both projects, outlines his original conceptions and how they gradually were changed by various circumstances. He discusses the positive aspects of the finally achieved ‘Route’ and, with open frankness, the errors that he believes were made at various stages of the venture. He concludes by reaffirming his conviction that the ‘Route’ demonstrates the necessity for team work on large, complex projects of an artistic character and that it is feasible, even when several artists are members of the team. He hopes his report on the experience gained will be of use to those who undertake a similarly ambitious program. He dedicates his article to the memory of Otto Freundlich, who, in 1936, envisioned a project in Europe along the lines of the ‘Route of Friendship’. Cet article decrit la discussion de l’idee qui presida a l’execution et a l’erection de dix-huit sculptures monumentales, le long du Anillo Periferico, des deux cotes du village Olympique, pour la dix-neuvieme Olympiade a Mexico en 1968. Cette partie du Periferico est appele la ‘Route de l’Amitie’. L’article contient egalement un rapport sur l’organisation de la Conference Internationale des Sculpteurs qui s’est tenue a Mexico, le 17 juin 1968. L’auteur, qui avait la responsabilite des deux programmes, expose ici ses conceptions personnelles et leur transformation progressive sous la pression de diverses circonstances. Il discute des aspects positifs de la ‘Route’ finalement realisee, et avec une totale franchise, des erreurs qui furent faites, selon lui aux diverses etapes de l’aventure. Il conclut en reaffirmant sa conviction que la ‘Route’ demontre la necessite d’un travail d’equipe pour le realisation de projets importants et complexes de caractere artistique, et que ceci est faisable meme lorsque plusieurs artistes font partie de l’equipe. Il espere que le temoignage de l’experience qu’il a acquise sera utile a ceux qui entreprendront un projet analogue dans son ambition. Il dedie son article a la memoire d’Otto Freundlich, qui, en 1936, envisagea en Europe un projet similaire a celui de la ‘Route de l’Amitie’.