Árbol adentro

Árbol adentro is a bronze sculpture by the musician and artist José Fors. He was aided by Gilberto Ortega, who modeled the sculpture, and a group of technicians worked in the foundry.^[1] The poem "Creció en mi frente un árbol" ("A tree grew on my forehead") by Octavio Paz served as inspiration.^[2]

It was requested by the then municipal president of Guadalajara, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, at a cost of MX$4.5 million. Alfaro said it was created "with a vision to repopulate" the city's historic center. The sculpture's cost received criticism, with Alfaro saying that, with time, "it will become an urban landmark".^[3][2] Fors had previously participated in Alfaro's municipal presidential campaign by composing a song for it.^[4]

Árbol adentro was unveiled on 15 December 2017. During the event, Paz's poem was read aloud.^[5] The sculpture features a bronze head with an oak tree inside. The tree was previously located on a nearby street.^[5] Its height is between 4 meters (13 ft) and 5 meters (16 ft), excluding the tree, and weighs between 4 metric tons (3.9 long tons; 4.4 short tons) and 8 metric tons (7.9 long tons; 8.8 short tons). At the rear, a set of stairs allows visitors to climb to the top. Its ears are large enough for children to climb inside.^[6]

Despite its initial criticism, it became a landmark in the area.^[7][8]

On 7 May 2024, a suspected homeless person set the sculpture on fire, but no damage was reported.^[9]