Cabeza de Juárez

A colossal head. That’s your first impression of the Cabeza de Juárez. It dominates the landscape here in Iztapalapa, Mexico City. But there’s more to this monument than meets the eye. The Cabeza de Juárez isn’t just a giant head. It’s a museum, a testament to a pivotal figure in Mexican history: Benito Juárez, the 26th president of Mexico. Commissioned in 1972 by President Luis Echeverría, the monument was meant to commemorate the centennial of Juárez’s death. It was inaugurated on his 170th birthday, March 21, 1976. The location, a roundabout on Guelatao Avenue, is no accident. It reflects Juárez’s birthplace, Guelatao, Oaxaca. The colossal head, weighing six tons and standing 13 meters high, was sculpted by Luis Arenal Bastar, brother-in-law of the famed muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. Siqueiros himself was originally slated to paint the murals adorning the structure’s base. However, his declining health prevented him from completing the project, and he passed away in 1974. Arenal Bastar stepped in to complete the murals, drawing inspiration from Siqueiros’s own work, as well as his own murals titled “Estampas de Guerrero.” The abstract designs add a vibrant splash of color to the otherwise gray concrete. Inside the 12-meter-high base, you’ll find a museum. It chronicles Juárez’s life. You’ll also discover works by renowned Mexican artists like Siqueiros, Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and Rufino Tamayo. Over the years, the Cabeza de Juárez has weathered storms, both literal and figurative. After falling into disrepair, it underwent a major restoration in 2000. It was even damaged in the 2017 earthquake, requiring further repairs. During this process, evidence of corrosion and bullet impacts were discovered. The Cabeza de Juárez has become a local landmark, even inspiring the pictogram for the nearby Guelatao metro station. While some may find its stark appearance unconventional, it undeniably leaves a lasting impression. This monument stands as a bold reminder of Benito Juárez’s legacy.