Sol

La Ruta de la Amistad

Station #4 
Sol - Japan

Kiyoshi Takahashi: 1925-1996

The Japanese sculpture is made up of two spheres that have two fourth sections removed.  They stand 7 meters tall.  Their placement is such that an optical illusion is produced when passing automobiles speed past them: it appears that the two spheres are complete and they are rotating on their axis.

As a child, I found this effect mesmerizing.  However, as often was (and is) the case, traffic often slowed the passing cars so that the effect was lost.  I also did not like the fact that they were white.  The grime from exhaust became very visible on them and they were often vandalized.  I am not sure if they are  maintained and cleaned regularly now.

Las Tres Gracias

La Ruta de la Amistad

Station #3
Las Tres Gracias - Czechoslovakia 

Miroslav Chlupac: 1920-2007

The third station is made up by three reinforced concrete columns - two pink and one purple - that stand 12.5 meters tall.   Each has a contoured side that contrasts with the straightness of the other three sides.  They stand on an elevated median between the main roadway and the frontage road making them quite visible as one drives by.  

What I liked about this sculpture is how the two pink columns seem to be interacting because their contoured sides face each other.  The lavender one is the odd one out both because of the color and having its contoured side face the smooth side of one of the pink ones.