With green water, mold, shattered glass and dirt. The sculpture Roots of eternal light, Located on Rumichaca and Luque streets, downtown Guayaquil, it currently looks distant from its inauguration in 2020.
It is a sculpture installed under three layers of glass panels, over which people can walk freely.
Municipality of Guayaquil clarifies concept of sculpture placed on Rumichaca street
At the time, the work received strong criticism on social networks.
At the inauguration of the sculpture, on July 23, 2020, The then mayor Cynthia Viteri stood on the sheet to appreciate details.
The photo of the scene unleashed comments of rejection, as some people pointed out that these images symbolized those who died from COVID-19.
The council, at the time, clarified that the work was a tribute “to the memory of all the dreamers who one day came to the city and helped make it what it is today.”
The space, conceived as a glass road, is now avoided by passers-by, since a part of the area of almost 200 meters has cracked glass.
Its shape is irregular, 30 centimeters deep You can see 16 characters in fiberglass and resin: men, women and children clinging to the roots of a tree.
Luis Vinces, who goes to the corner of Rumichaca and Luque every day to wait for a bus, pointed out that people are afraid of stepping on any part of the glass that covers the work.
“A few months ago it looks like a shattered windshield, as if a rock had been thrown at it. People better not walk there because that looks dangerous,” he said.
In the basement, the pieces that showed people painted white and lying on the floor are with green water. The liquid covers them almost halfway and from there a putrid smell emanates.
“This had problems since 2020 when it was inaugurated, from there it was already accumulating humidity, but now it is terrible, everything is green and people are afraid to step on it,” said Beneplácito Vélez, who lives on Rumichaca street.
Fabricio Valverde: ‘Roots of Eternal Light’ is a different, reflective and avant-garde work
For the resident, the work has not had adequate maintenance since its inauguration. In the rainy season, he said, is when more water accumulates on the site.
The area where the tree is located, where the sculptures direct the eye, is also deteriorated. The plate that shows details of the sculpture has worn paint.
The internal lights provide little light and most of the day, the glass is foggy.
“It is a shame that what was put here to give life to the center is thrown away, I hope they fix it or do something, because beyond the accumulated mold it is a danger,” Vélez stressed.
This newspaper asked the Municipality if there is a plan to intervene in this sculpture located in the center of the city and a response is awaited. (YO)
