30. Modern Pyramids, from London to Sydney via SFO (2002)

In 2002 I was completing my PhD at the University of Reading in the UK and getting ready to move to Australia for a few months, the academic year, as I was offered a research position at the University of Newcastle. This image represents transitions between countries and places I have lived in and visited including Australia.

The piece represents pyramids, from ancient Egyptian and Mexican ones to contemporary ones, today's interpretations of a pyramid is still in a triangular for but more in a vertical proportion such as high-rise structures rather and horizontal, for example the Shred in London. A true horizontal contemporary pyramid would be the Sydney Opera House. The base of the SOH is in Jorn Utzons view what really makes the SOH such an interesting and powerful structure.

Overlapping Pyramids. An there is no question that the base of the Sydney Opera House is a pyramid inspired by Mayan architecture. Jorn Utzon always made that explicit.

Ryugyong Hotel Pyongyang, North Korea, under construction, 330 m
The Shard London, United Kingdom, 2012, 309.6 m
Transamerica Pyramid San Francisco, United States of America, 1972, 260 m
Great Pyramid of Giza/Khufu/Cheops Giza, Egypt, c.2560 BC, 138.8 m (was 146.5 m)
Pyramid of Khafre/Chefren Giza, Egypt, c.2530 BC, 136.4 m (was 143.5 m)
Luxor Las Vegas pyramid Las Vegas, United States of America, 1993, 111 m
Red/North Pyramid Dahshur, Egypt, c.2580 BC, 104 m
Bent Pyramid Dahshur, Egypt, c.2600 BC, 101.1 m
Mount Li/Qin Shi Huang mausoleum Xi'an, China, c.210 BC, 47 m (was 76 m)
Pyramid of the Sun Teotihuacán, Mexico, c.100, 75 m
Great Pyramid of Cholula Cholula, Mexico, c.900, 66 m
Pyramid of Menkaure/Mycerinus Giza, Egypt, c.2500 BC, 65.5 m
Pyramid of Djoser Saqqara, Egypt, c.2610 BC, 62.6 m
Pyramid of the Moon Teotihuacán, Mexico, c.300, 43 m
Pyramid of Cestius Rome, Italy, c.12 BC, 37 m
El Castillo Chichen Itza, Mexico, c.1000, 30 m
Louvre Pyramid Paris, France, 1989, 20.6 m

Guillermo Aranda-Mena Ⓒ2023