User:Mphola/Janus (sculpture)

Janus
Janus is a monumental sculpture made by Australian artist Clement Meadmore as part of the "Ruta de la Amistad" (English: Friendship Route), a set of 19 sculptures made by artists of various nationalities to commemorate the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. The work was originally installed at Periférico Sur and It was the twelfth sculpture on the route, this represented Australia in the exhibition.

Consisting of a single body in the shape of a ring folded on itself, the sculpture resembles a Moebius strip that does not close. It is 6 meters high, almost 7 meters wide and weighs 40 tons. Originally it had a base and stairs made of volcanic rock, but these were demolished.

The Friendship Route was abandoned for 25 years, during that time the Olinca School built its facilities around the sculpture where it remained for 16 years. During this period of time it will become the logo of the school and the original base of volcanic stone will be replaced by grass. After many efforts by the Patronato Ruta de la Amistad, the World Monuments Fund, the Meadmore Foundation and the australian embassy, in December 2012, the sculpture was returned after several years of refusal by the school.

Original location: Periférico sur (south-north direction) where the Olinca School is located today

Current location: Insurgentes south and Periférico cloverleaf interchange, on Insurgentes south-north direction