Celebrated Guadalajara muralist Jorge Monroy is working on a gigantic mural that will grace the new wing of the Hospital Civil Viejo and depict its distinguished history.
Monroy joined the ranks of esteemed Mexican muralists with “Under the Wings of Mercury,” an extraordinary painting dominating the foyer of the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce. This was followed by a mural on a 30-meter-long curving wall welcoming visitors to the Interactive Museum at the Guachimontones archaeological site. Most recently, he completed “Tlaloc Reigns Over Chapala” for the Jalisco State Water Commission building in Chapala.
Monroy says he is creating his latest work in “an extraordinary place.” The site is a stairwell of gigantic proportions that would be impressive even without a mural alongside it. A circular concrete ramp, resembling an endless ribbon floating in the air, allows visitors, wheelchairs or gurneys to move from floor to floor with a full view of the mural, which will be about 16 meters high and ten meters wide.
“The painting will have excellent natural lighting,” says Monroy. “Unlike many other tall murals, this one is not meant to be seen only from the bottom. It will be visible from above and can be viewed horizontally from any point on the spiral ramp and from every floor of the new hospital.”
The mural will be composed of 24 panels. To make it possible for the artist to work on the mural without having to climb tottering scaffolding, engineers have created an ingenious system of rails which will raise row after row of panels up to their highest position once they have been completed, allowing Monroy literally to work on the top of the painting while standing on the floor of the building.
Monroy has been working on the mural since last August and expects it will take a full year to complete.
The mural focuses on the history of the hospital and its founder, Fray Antonio Alcalde, who is fully visible in the foreground from head to foot.
Says Monroy: “Above the friar, at the top of the mural, you can see the Guadalajara cathedral as it looked in 1770 when Alcalde arrived here, and in the background is the Barranca de Oblatos which lies at the northern edge of the city.”
Monroy explains that further down the painting you can see some of Fray Antonio’s other projects, including the founding of the University of Guadalajara (with the approval of the Spanish Royals), the first printing press in the city and the creation of the Belen Cemetery.
Below these scenes, Monroy reminds us of the epidemics which struck Guadalajara during Alcalde’s lifetime. At one point there was an outbreak of plague and cholera that coincided with a widespread famine. During this period, 5,000 people died and Alcalde responded with the creation of the Hospital Civil, housing 800 patients.
Fans of Monroy will note that in this mural there is much more than what first meets the eye. Overlaying the scenes, the buildings and even the towering figure of Fray Antonio himself, are airy shapes and symbols reminiscent of hundreds of tiny drawings superimposed over the powerful portrait of Tlaloc in his last mural.
During the course of a year, Monroy will populate his canvas with other important figures and events in the hospital and Guadalajara’s history.
“I’m not sure at this point what other events will go into the story and the painting,” he says, “but I have a feeling this is going to be one quite unforgettable mural.”
The new section of the hospital will not be open to the public for another year, but you can see more of Monroy’s work just by googling “Jorge Monroy” and “murals.”