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How did Juan O’Gorman use mosaics on the library of the National Autonomous University of Mexico?

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Bird mosaic — mosaic Mosaic floor fragment from a synagogue or church, cut stone with mortar from Israel, late 5th–6th century ce; in the Jewish Museum, New York City.

Juan O’Gorman utilized natural stone to create the expansive, iconic mosaics that adorn the exterior of the Central Library at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.12

Working in the early 1950s, O’Gorman selected ten different types of native rocks to craft 10-foot-square panels. When assembled across the four faces of the library’s windowless tower, these panels formed a unified, monumental mosaic design that symbolically depicts the history and culture of Mexico.13

This use of natural stone was significant for several reasons:
* Materiality: The choice of stone, including volcanic rock, allowed the building to harmonize with the local landscape and reflected a shift toward using indigenous materials.13
* Symbolism: The vibrant, exuberant use of color in the mosaics was intended to pay homage to the polychrome surfaces of ancient Mayan and Aztec temples.3
* Artistic Evolution: This project marked O’Gorman’s move away from strict Functionalism toward an organic approach that united modern structural design with traditional Mexican decorative motifs.1