Pilgrimage Through Mexico's Modernist Churches: A Personal Journey
After experiencing being ghosted by a renowned art historian, the author sets off on a journey to modernist churches in Mexico, examining how faith has evolved alongside modernity. The exploration kicks off with Lucía Santa Ana's essay about Enrique de la Mora's Iglesia de la Purísima (1940), recognized as Mexico’s first modern church. Between the 1940s and 1980s, modern architecture mirrored the shifts in Catholicism following the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The author visits notable sites such as the Capilla de Guadalupe (1961) by Alberto González Pozo, Iglesia de San Antonio de Padua (1962-1966), and Luis Barragán's Convento de las Capuchinas (1961). The journey also includes churches designed by Félix Candela, culminating at Iglesia de Santa Cruz del Pedregal (1967) by Antonio Attolini Lack, leaving the author transformed by the experience of art and architecture.
Key facts
- Enrique de la Mora designed the first modern church in Mexico, Iglesia de la Purísima, in Monterrey in 1940.
- The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) influenced modernist church architecture, emphasizing minimalism and closeness between priest and congregation.
- Alberto González Pozo designed the Capilla de Guadalupe (1961) in Mexico City, featuring a skylight that illuminates the altar.
- Luis Barragán designed the chapel at the Convento de las Capuchinas in Tlalpan in 1961.
- Jill Magid's 2018 documentary 'The Proposal' features Barragán's ashes being turned into a diamond.
- Félix Candela used parabolic concrete forms in his churches, such as the Capilla de la Medalla Milagrosa (1960) and the Parroquia del Señor del Campo Florido (1966).
- Antonio Attolini Lack designed the Iglesia de Santa Cruz del Pedregal, completed in 1967, known for its radiant yellow exterior and golden disc above the altar.
- The author's journey includes visits to churches by Mario Pani and others, reflecting on the relationship between modern architecture and spirituality.
Entities
Artists
- Enrique de la Mora
- Luis Barragán
- Félix Candela
- Alberto González Pozo
- Mario Pani
- Antonio Attolini Lack
- Jill Magid
- Lucía Santa Ana
- Peter Krieger
- Iván San Martín
- Isaac Newton
- George Berkeley
- Karl Marx
Institutions
- UNAM
- Consejo para la Cultura y las Artes de Nuevo León (Conarte)
- La Tempestad
- Barragan Foundation
Locations
- Monterrey
- Mexico
- Mexico City
- El Rosedal
- Xotepingo
- Tlalpan
- Coyoacán
- Satélite
- Jardines del Pedregal