From Cayman Airways Magazine

The BioMuseo in Central America’s Panama City reveals a revolutionary story that’s been ages in the making.

With its bright hues and cascading shapes, the BioMuseo seems to have sprung right out of Panama’s fertile ground. It’s an asymmetrical collage of glass and steel that reflects off the waters winding their way towards the Panama Canal’s Pacific entrance. The vivid colours on its undulating roof are a nod to the tropical location. Perched on the edge of the bay on the Causeway of Amador, Frank Gehry’s unusual building dominates the landscape. That unmistakable appearance, along with its commanding views, have made it a landmark structure, on its way toward becoming a symbol for the country as a whole.

In his first foray into Latin America, Gehry designed the BioMuseo based on a greater concept. The museum would tell the story of how the creation of the isthmus of Panama changed the course of the planet’s history. By joining two large landmasses and dividing an ocean, the climate and ecology of the world were forever changed, becoming what we recognise today.

“No other country can claim such a unique role in the history of our planet,” says Dr. Anthony G. Coates, former Director for Scientific Research Programs of the Smithsonian Institution and the author of the general concept of the main exhibition at the museum.

The Smithsonian Institute and the University of Panama have curated exhibits here that span eight galleries and are spread across three floors. The exhibit spaces, including Galeria de la Biodiversidad (The Biodiversity Gallery); Panamarama, El Puente Surge (The Bridge Rises); El Gran Intercambio (The Great Exchange) and More, all flow in a sequence that tells a larger story while focusing on specific aspects of the region’s eco-system and biodiversity. Outside, the BioParque surrounds the artful building with a display of the region’s endemic flora.

As the first cultural destination of its kind in the region, the museum aims to highlight the symbiotic relationship between nature and art, marrying architecture, design and other forms of visual art with the natural world. Strolling through the exhibit halls is meant to be a delight as much for the curious observer interested in geology and wildlife, as it is for the art lover who appreciates playful representations of form and colour.

The BioMuseo is also a centre for research and study with significance for scientists and great potential for the community at large. “We hope that our specially designed programmes can be integrated into the national school curriculum for the benefit of all young Panamanians,” says Coates.

VISIT PANAMA WITH CAYMAN AIRWAYS

Cayman Airways proudly serves Panama City by offering direct flights to and from Grand Cayman twice a week, Thursdays and Mondays, from June 12, 2014, through September 1, 2014. To book your flight visit caymanairways.com, call 345-949-2311 or 1-800-4-CAYMAN, or contact your local agent.

For more on this story go to: http://www.caymanairwaysmagazine.com/2014/05/arts-culture-bold-by-nature/