"Las Pozas", Xilitlaobra surrealista de sir Edward James

Abstract

In the mid-1940s, Sir Edward Frank Willis James, a Brit, arrives at Xilitla (a village in the Huasteca Potosina) never imagining that he will subsequently erect the icon of the region, namely: a permanent sculptural-architectural, organic and ecological complex at Las Pozas (La Conchita Ranch), an artistic testimony of the 20th century. Intimately involved with the surrealist movement, Edward James projects his work in more than 20 years of construction, much of which will remain unfinished according to his will and wishes. The objectives of this research are to identify the intervened space by James (Xilitla), as well as, the artistic influences and characteristics of his work, the personalities that interacted with him and, above all, to present an iconographical and iconological study with the purpose of interpreting some of the works of Las Pozas. Besides being a poet, Edward James is a creator who makes of Xilitla a plastic universe. And in that quality as an artist, he pursues a purpose obsessively: the delight of creating.