This document provides descriptions of 12 sculptures located along the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It describes the sculptures, including their names, artists, when they were created, and brief summaries of their symbolic meanings. Some of the sculptures discussed include "The Millennia Statue", "Origin and Destination", "Nostalgia", "Nature as Mother", and "The Boy on the Seahorse". The document aims to inform visitors about public art installations they can see while walking along the seaside promenade.

1. Sculptures on the Puerto
Vallarta Malecon
M. A. Gallardo www.puertovallarta.net

2. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
Table Of Contents
Table Of Contents 2
Introduction 3
The Millennia Statue (2001) 4
Origin and Destination (2011) 5
Nostalgia (1984) 6
Nature as Mother 7
The Subtle Rock Eater (2006) 8
The Good Fortune Unicorn (2011) 9
Triton and Mermaid (1990) 10
The Roundabout of the Sea (1996) 11
Searching for Reason (2000) 12
The Boy on the Seahorse (1976) 13
Angel of Hope and Messenger of Peace (2008) 14
The Friendship Fountain (1987) 15
Hope you enjoyed our PV sculpture guide 16
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

3. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
Introduction
Puerto Vallarta is not only a tourist destination that can offer beaches, tours, beautiful landscapes and
everlasting memories, it's also a place to enjoy art in its various forms and expressions.
While you walk around town you'll find numerous art galleries offering works by various local and foreign
artists, but the easiest and most hands-on way to enjoy art is to take a walk along the Malecon.
Check out the Map showing the statue location along the Malecon
This seaside promenade was remodeled in 2011 and is now exclusive for pedestrians (no more noisy cars and
taxis spoiling the enjoyment).
It is here you'll find a string of beautiful sculptures in bronze, stone, and other styles. Many are from local and
national artists, some are from around the world.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

4. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
The Millennia Statue (2001)
"Los Milenios" (The Millennia) by Mathis Lidice
If we start off from North to South, right beside Hotel Rosita, we'll first find "Los Milenios" (The Millennia) by
Mathis Lidice, a spiraling sculpture that represents the passage of time, starting off with the origin of life and
ending in the hope for the future: peace.
On the spiral sculpture, you'll find animal evolution, Charlesmagne wielding a sword, Nezahualcóyotl and a
woman stretching up to the future.
More information.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

5. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
Origin and Destination (2011)
"Origin and Destination" by Pedro Tello
Next, on the corner of Allende and the Malecon, you'll find "Origin and Destination" by Pedro Tello.
The sculptures represent the beginnings of humanity, music, time and knowledge. The boat represents
mankind's quest for new horizons.
In the second sculpture, a chimera, symbolizes humanity's unity with reptiles, birds and marine animals, with
musical notes that represent the harmony existing between them.
The final sculpture is an obelisk, representing humanity's spirituality. The obelisk contains an hours glass filled
with sand, a symbol of the transience of the present.
More information.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

6. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
Nostalgia (1984)
"Nostalgia" by Mexican artist, Ramiz Barquet
Next along our walk is "Nostalgia" by Mexican artist, Ramiz Barquet, who created this sculpture to symbolize his
love for his wife, Nelly Barquet.
It shows a loving couple sitting side by side on a white granite bench, looking dreamily towards the sea,
mountains, town and life with immense joy and love that lasted through time and finally became a reality.
This sculpture is also one of the first that was placed on the Malecon in 1984.
More information.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

7. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
Nature as Mother
Nature as Mother (Naturaleza Como Madre) by Adrián Reynoso
Going south you'll find Nature as Mother (La Naturaleza Como Madre) by Adrián Reynoso [note: many places
online you'll find his name as "Tapatío", but actually tapatío means he's from Guadalajara].
An abstract polymer-resin-bronze sculpture on the Malecon, curves depict a crashing wave with human
features.
A human waveform (the mother, we guess) above a snail spiral shape that represents the eternal cycle of life
and death.
http://adrianreynoso.com/ (As of April 2012, this statue is no longer available on the Malecón. It is now located
in the Main Plaza of the Colonia Infonavit)
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

8. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
The Subtle Rock Eater (2006)
"El Sutil Comepiedras" (The Subtle Rock Eater) Jonás Gutiérrez
On the corner of Leona Vicario and the Malecon, you'll find an interesting and strange sculpture named "El Sutil
Comepiedras", The Subtle Rock Eater by Guadalajara artist Jonás Gutiérrez from 2006.
It's a 2.4-meter-high, bronze-and-obsidian sculpture, it shows us a friendly and funny man. More information.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

9. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
The Good Fortune Unicorn (2011)
The Good Fortune Unicorn by Aníbal Riebeling
On January the 16th 2011, one of the newest sculptures on the Malecon was inaugurated, it's the work titled
The Good Fortune Unicorn “El Unicornio de la Buena Fortuna” by the Guadalajara artist Aníbal Riebeling.
It's a 3-meter high unicorn in a very stylized and wavy form, maybe to better fuse with the surrounding sea.
More information.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

10. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
Triton and Mermaid (1990)
Triton and Mermaid by Carlos Espino
You'll find this statue on the corner of Abasolo and the Malecon. This sculpture by Carlos Espino, Triton, and
Mermaid, concentrates on the human form and classical mythology, which can clearly be appreciated in this
piece.
It depicts Triton, son of the Greek god and Goddess of the sea and earthquakes, Poseidon and Amphitrite, and
a Mermaid.
More information.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

11. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
The Roundabout of the Sea (1996)
La Rotonda del Mar (The Roundabout of the Sea) by Alejandro Colunga
“La Rotonda del Mar” (The Roundabout of the Sea) by Alejandro Colunga from 1996, is found on the corner of
Aldama and the Malecon. Colunga is a self-taught painter and sculptor from Guadalajara.
You'll also find his statues, with the same concept, around Guadalajara and Zapopan.
Eight monumental high-backed bronze chairs offering exaggerated human anatomy, surrealism, fantasy and
nautical imagery.
More information.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

12. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
Searching for Reason (2000)
"Searching for Reason" (En búsqueda de la razón) by Sergio Bustamante
"Searching for Reason" (En busca de la razón) by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante on the corner of Corona and
the Malecon.
Very distinctive statue with pillow headed figures and a ladder which they are climbing, searching for an
answer while striving farther and above the normal limits of humanity (at least that is how it seems.
People like to climb up this statue and take their photograph which is fine just as long as they don't fall off
during the photo shoot. Definitively one of the most impressive statues on the Malecon.
Read more about this interesting sculpture.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

13. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
The Boy on the Seahorse (1976)
“Caballito de mar” (Little Seahorse) by Rafael Zamarripa
Rafael Zamarripa's famous "The Boy on the Seahorse" (Little Seahorse) statue on the Malecón has become a
symbol of Puerto Vallarta, now placed in a new location with better space and stairs to sit around it.
It's a 3 meter high bronze replica of the statue that was placed initially on a group of rocks called "Las Pilitas" at
the end of Los Muertos Beach, but it was thrown over by the waves and strong winds, so in 1976 the artist was
requested a new version which was then installed by the old Lighthouse on the Malecon.
More information.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

14. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
Angel of Hope and Messenger of Peace (2008)
Angel de la Esperanza y Mensajero de la Paz by Hector Manuel Montes García
Behind the Los Arcos amphitheater (the Arches were part of a hacienda in Guadalajara) you'll find "Angel of
Hope and Messenger of Peace" (Angel de la Esperanza y Mensajero de la Paz) by Hector Manuel Montes
García from 2008. More information.
This statue was removed while the Malecon was being rebuilt, in July 2012 the local government approved to
replace it between the sea and Los Arcos (the Arches).
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

15. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
The Friendship Fountain (Dancing Dolphins
Fountain, 1987)
Friendship Fountain "La Fuente de la Amistad" by James “Bud” Bottoms & Octavio Gonzalez Gutierrez
Now behind the arches, you'll find the Friendship Fountain (Dancing Dolphins Fountain) "La Fuente de la
Amistad" by James “Bud” Bottoms together with Octavio Gonzalez Gutierrez (1987).
Puerto Vallarta and Santa Barbara, California have been sister cities since 1972, Santa Barbara's sculptor James
Bottoms designed this fountain with three leaping dolphins inspired by a Chumash Indian legend.
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon

16. Statues & sculptures on the Malecon
More information.
Hope you enjoyed our PV
sculpture guide
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Statues & sculptures on the Malecon