The , also known as , is an outdoor sculpture and monument in the city of Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia. Made of concrete and bronze, and it was created by Colombian sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt (1919–1995) and was inaugurated in the central square of the La Alpujarra Administrative Center on 31 May 1988.

The monument consists of a curved concrete structure adorned with numerous bronze sculptures symbolizing Antioquian identity and culture. In 2016, an urn containing a portion of Arenas' remains was placed next to the monument.

History and construction The Medellin government approved the erection of a monument honoring on 4 September 1975. The Colombian sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt sought to capture the culture and people of Antioquia through the monument. The base was constructed using plaster and concrete.

It was inaugurated on 31 May 1988, and was blessed by cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo. During the inauguration, Arenas stated:

During the 203rd anniversary of the Independence of Antioquia in August 2016, Arenas was honored, and portion of his remains was placed in an urn installed beside the monument.

Status The monument is exposed to multiple contaminants, including air pollution, moss, and pigeons and their feces, with visible damage to the naked eye. In August 2016, then-governor of Antioquia announced a restoration, but as of April 2018 it had not been conducted.

The monument received restoration works in 2025.

Description and interpretation The stands tall and weights . The Museo Universitario de Artes Digitales described it as a brown curved sculpture pointing towards the sky. According to the museum, the monument symbolizes the Antioquian culture, including its agriculture, religion, and spirit of solidarity. The museum also interpreted the work as a reflection of Arenas' early life in the Antioquian farmlands. Andrés Carvajal López, from the EAFIT University, said it portraits the story of the people who came out of the mud attempting to reach the top, starting from the bottom and trying to reach divinity in the zenith. María Elena Quintero, poet and widow of Arenas, said:

Reception Sarah Woods described the as a "powerful [and] robust" work that depicts "the forces of good and evil".

Gallery

Notes

References

External links