The Official Guide to the Puerto Vallarta Malecon Sculptures (Part 2)

The Malecon boardwalk and its sculptures are a must-see when you visit Puerto Vallarta.  But do you have any idea which one was on the verge of being canceled by a group of religious women?  Do you know which one of them is considered to be the most important group of surrealist sculptures in Puerto Vallarta?  Or which one has been under the wrong name for years now? 

To help you show off your knowledge of Puerto Vallarta the next time you climb a sculpture to take a souvenir photo, we present the second part of the Official Travel Guide to the Sculptures of the Malecon boardwalk, filled with curious fun facts and little-known anecdotes.  

THE ROTUNDA OF THE SEA

• The Artist: Alejandro Colunga.
• Year of Creation: 1996
• Location: It is located where the Malecón boardwalk meets Aldama Street.
• Meaning: “The Rotunda of the Sea” is a set of 16 bronze sculptures, including eight monumental sculptures and eight smaller ones.  It is also considered to be the most important group of public sculptures and the most complete collection of surrealist art in Puerto Vallarta.  The original set of sculptures included a fish slide. It was meant to be used by children as a slide down to the beach.  As a "precaution" against the swell, however, this piece was never installed.  “The Rotunda of the Sea” was the second sculpture, after “Nostalgia”, that was entirely financed by the people of Puerto Vallarta, thanks to the interest and support of residents such as Ms. Nelly Galvan and her family, and businessman Miguel Flores Ibarra, among many others.
• Fun Fact: “The Rotunda of the Sea” was inaugurated only 30 minutes after “Nature as Mother” on December 30, 1996.  Groups of Puerto Vallarta religious women protested, at least twice, against the installation of “Nostalgia”, “Nature as Mother”, and “The Rotunda of the Sea”, which they considered to be "detrimental blotches on Puerto Vallarta's image."

IN SEARCH OF REASON

• The Artist: Sergio Bustamante.
• Year of Creation: 2000. 
• Location: It is located at the intersection of the Malecón boardwalk and Corona Street.
• Meaning: “In Search of Reason” is a set of three bronze surrealistic human figures: one is standing on the Malecon with open arms; the other two are climbing up a stair of 6.80 meters high.  The last step is reached by the tallest figure.  The public can have an interaction with the standing figure or climb the steps of the staircase.  “In Search of Reason” is one of the series of artworks conceived by its creator as "interactive" sculptures, and the third work to be installed on the Malecon for this purpose.
• Fun Fact: The original intention of Mexican artist and architect Sergio Bustamante was to donate a Unicorn-Pegasus like sculpture to Puerto Vallarta.  Inspired by the popularity of “The Rotunda of the Sea”, in 1999 he changed the sculpture that he had decided to donate to the city for this piece.

LLUVIA

• The Artist: Jovian.  
• Year of Creation: 2020. 
• Location: It is located on the Malecon boardwalk, at the foot of the El Faro (Lighthouse) Esplanade and its intersection with Galeana Street.
• Meaning: “Lluvia” (Rain) is a monumental bronze sculpture standing at 10 feet tall.  It represents one of the hundreds of swimmers who enjoy the refreshing waters of Puerto Vallarta's beaches.  As if receiving the first drops of rain, the young man stretches out both arms with his palms facing up.
• Fun Fact: “Lluvia” is the 34th artwork to be incorporated into the great open-air gallery that is Puerto Vallarta's Malecon boardwalk.  It was donated by Jovian, through the owner of Galeria Corsica, Señor Jean-Pierre Renucci, to the City of Puerto Vallarta in 2020.

TRITON AND MERMAID 

• The Artist: Carlos Espino.
• Year of Creation: 1990.
• Location: It is located at the intersection of the Malecon boardwalk and Mina Street.
• Meaning: “Triton and Mermaid” are the official symbols of Costalegre.  Costalegre is the sister beach destination of Puerto Vallarta, located in the south of the state of Jalisco.  The piece located on the Malecon is part of a series of 30 and was purchased from an art gallery.  There are identical sculptures of “Triton and Mermaid” in other tourist destinations in Mexico, such as Barra de Navidad and Acapulco.  The latter was in a private villa that once belonged to the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza.
• Fun Fact: In Puerto Vallarta, it was inaugurated in 1990 under the erroneous title of "Neptune and Nereida"; a misnomer that is still in use by some people today.  The sculpture was originally placed in a pavilion that was built for this purpose on the old Malecon, in front of the Hotel Paraiso, which has since disappeared.

THE BOY ON THE SEAHORSE 

• The Artist: It was created by Mexican artist Rafael Zamarripa Castañeda.
• Year of Creation: 1976.
• Location: “The Boy on the Seahorse” was moved to its current location in October 2011, when the Puerto Vallarta Malecon boardwalk got redesigned.
• Meaning: This bronze sculpture is known worldwide as Puerto Vallarta's official tourist symbol.  The piece is a representation of a naked young boy with a Charro hat hanging from his back.  The child is greeting the world with his right arm raised as he rides on a seahorse. 
• Fun Fact: The sculpture on the Malecon is actually a replica of the original piece that is installed at Pilitas Beach, just south of the Romantic Zone.  In 1976, the replica was originally placed on the beach next to the Malecon bend, in front of the now-closed Hotel Oceano.  The sculpture was moved to the Malecon in 1990, when a roundabout was built between the streets of Galeana and Mina.  This installation made it easier for the public to appreciate the work without the need for a walk down to the beach.

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