Anti-monuments: emerging practices in the struggle for memory

Abstract

This paper analyzes the anti-monument, a new form of memory practice emerged in Mexico in the 2010s, which articulates innovative ways to understanding monumentality in relation to collective memory and social demands. The paper defines and characterizes the anti-monument through a qualitative analysis of significant recent academic and journalistic works on the topic. The anti-monument is presented as a political and artistic expression from social collectives that transforms public spaces to contest memory and democracy; initially, its goal is to preserve the memory of traumatic events and demand justice in contexts marked by state impunity. The anti-monuments reshape urban spaces by encouraging critical reflection on the past, recent history, and the state of social justice in society. The analysis shows how anti-monuments highlight current issues, such as forced disappearances and femicides, which are closely connected to unresolved historical traumas, aiming to foster a collective memory and a path toward a more democratic future. Additionally, the peculiarity of the anti-monument is highlighted in contrast to other alternative memory practices, such as such as the counter-monument. Finally, the paper underscores the role of anti-monuments as tools for social action and highlights their theoretical and methodological contributions to the field of memory studies.