Cosmovitral

It was not until 1975 when the first female Mayor of Toluca, Yolanda Sentíes, had the 16 de Septiembre Market reallocated and successfully gauged enough social and political support to transform the building into a space for art.

[1] The concept of Leopoldo Flores was novel – a mural done in stained glass that would encircle the building on its windows and run along the ceiling.

[1] The theme of the work is “Man and his relationship with the universe.”[3] The project began with a complete scrub-down of the market building as well as reinforcements to the walls to support the weight of the about-to –be-installed stained glass windows.

Twenty eight different colors of glass were used, most of which came from Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Japan, Canada and the United States.

The theme depicted by the windows centers on universal dualities and antagonisms, the struggle between life and death, good and evil, day and night and creation and destruction, all shown in a cosmic continuum.

[4][5] The main focus of the work is a panel with a fiery sun bearing the image of a man, who represents mankind.

The image represents mankind in perfect harmony with the forces of creation, virtue, art, science, truth, beauty, wisdom and other qualities.

This annual event last about twenty minutes in the late afternoon and is celebrated with a classical music concert, timed to the passing of the sun.

In the center is a bust of Eizi Matuda, a Japanese scientist who is known for his research into the flora of Mexico State, classifying more than 6,000 species.

[11] The main facade overlooks the plaza named for priest, researcher and philosopher Ángel María Garibay Kintana.

The building stone on the outside was cleaned, new lighting added and damage to the lead soldering due to climate repaired.

The only occasional damage is the breaking of a glass piece when someone throws a rock, which happens very rarely even though 48 of the 71 panels face the street.