Standing at the entrance of Parque Caiké in Tolima, Colombia, the Monumento Pijao Ancestral greets visitors with the towering presence of two figures from the Pijao people, a tribute to indigenous heritage and resilience. Rising 13.6 meters high, with a 15-meter spear held aloft by the male figure, the monument weighs approximately nine tons in total (5.4 tons for the male character and 3.6 tons for the female).
The project was born from a unique collaboration between artist Edgar Varón Oviedo and his son, architect Edgar Daniel Varón Villarreal. The father shaped the aesthetic and sculptural vision, while the son developed the 3D model, parametric system, and technical direction for construction. Drawing inspiration from ancestral geometric patterns, they translated symbolic forms into a low-poly structural system by fully triangulating the surfaces.
From the original sketches, Villarreal used Rhinoceros and Grasshopper to create a clean 3D model, which served as the foundation for the entire build. Using native Grasshopper components and the Sandbox plugin, Daniel designed an algorithm to generate metallic edges and joints, controlling profile thickness and diameters. A structural engineering team reviewed this parametric model, and their feedback was incorporated before fabrication began.
Construction involved both precision and ingenuity. Lacking access to advanced tools like augmented reality for assembly guidance, the team relied on meticulously prepared full-scale drawings. Grasshopper was used to project the exact positions of each component onto horizontal “Z” planes, which were printed at 1:1 scale and laid directly on-site.
This method ensured accurate module placement for the characters’ segmented bodies (hips, torso, arms, and head) while minimizing adjustments during assembly.
The internal framework consisted of CNC-cut plywood rings placed every 70 cm, following the contours of the figures. These acted as guides for welding steel tubes that formed the triangular edges of the structure. The “skin” was built from flat steel plates, one per triangle, with their layout automatically assigned in Grasshopper according to position. Areas requiring more detail, such as the hands, received finer triangulation.
For the hair, the process reversed: the sculpted heads, crafted directly by Edgar Varón Oviedo using wire, paper, and steel as guides, were 3D scanned via photogrammetry with RealityCapture. After cleaning the meshes, the hair volumes were modeled in Rhino, then algorithmically sliced in Grasshopper into vertical sections for CNC cutting and assembly. Decorative elements, such as headdresses, were cut from thin steel sheets for easier shaping and manipulation.
The most significant challenge was the on-site installation. Achieving precise connections between modules required exact alignment, and while most fit perfectly thanks to the digital model, a few mismatches were resolved manually. Welding followed structural standards, and tools ranged from CNC machines to conventional grinders and hand tools, reflecting both high-tech planning and hands-on craftsmanship.
Commissioned by Comfenalco for a theme park dedicated to myths and legends, the monument took a year and a half to complete. Beyond its impressive scale and engineering, it stands as a personal milestone: a monumental creation born from the combined artistry of a father and the technical expertise of his son, uniting cultural memory with contemporary design methods.
“For us, it was a great honor to be part of this,” says Daniel. “Even more so for my father, whose dream was to create something of this scale. Today, with more tools and knowledge, we could approach it differently, but the fact that we built it with our own resourcefulness gives it a special meaning.”
CREDITS
Edgar Varón Oviedo – Artist
Edgar Daniel Varón Villarreal – Architect
Photos courtesy of Carlos Pinilla
