The work of Mantra is a true visual delight. Its first wall reminds us of the importance of water as a generator of life and the death and despair of its absence. It is located at the western end of the building, in a narrow and cloudy passage that connects two important avenues of the city, surrounded by grey walls and floors stained by years of walking. The Mantra altarpiece is erected with grace and color, as nature does on a daily basis, as if flowers had bloomed on those walls and a monarch butterfly reigned over the alley. On the left, a sea turtle skull lies on a fishing net, as in Tre Packard’s original photograph. The transformative power of the art of Mantra has accentuated the enormous force of nature to make everything bloom, pristine, even in the darkest alley.
The technical ability of Mantra is almost disconcerting. However, it is from the metaphor contained in the mural that the strength to move the passer-by is born. The piece identifies us with nature, to be more human. We see a huge female presence that gazes with delight at the fertile nature. It is an allegory about biodiversity, with the purpose of showing that humanity has the capacity to interact with the natural environment in complete harmony and balance. The main character is inspired by the female deities of water in Mesoamerica and represents nature in its original splendor. From the east side of the dome, the Mantra piece dances with the west side, the lizard Cipactli beset by the pollution of Goal and Ryper, completing the dance game of the four directions of the world on the Dome and under the Sun. With a quetzal on his shoulder, a salamander, a butterfly, a whale shark and other natural beings representing the wealth of the world connected by the same element – water.
