Letreros de la Ciudad de México

Across the sprawling metropolis of Mexico City, the Letreros de la Ciudad de México, the hand-painted signs, once vibrated with life. These weren’t just signs. They were vibrant expressions of art, splashed across the metal kiosks of street vendors. They depicted everything from fantastical portraits of sandwiches to swirling, colorful typography. The Letreros de la Ciudad de México were a key part of the city’s visual identity, a folk art tradition. They were a testament to the ingenuity and humor of the rotulistas, the sign painters. Sadly, in April of 2022, the Cuauhtémoc borough government decreed these bursts of color a blight on the cityscape. Under the guise of “cleanliness” and “harmony,” they mandated the erasure of the Letreros de la Ciudad de México. Imagine the rotulistas, forced to whitewash their own creations, their artistry replaced by the dull gray and white of the official borough seal. The Letreros de la Ciudad de México, once so full of life, were systematically erased. This act, driven by a desire for a homogenized urban landscape, echoed previous attempts to control the city’s visual identity. From the pulquería murals of the 1940s to the neon signs targeted by Uruchurtu, the city had a history of suppressing artistic expression. But the people of Mexico City, the chilangos, wouldn’t let the Letreros de la Ciudad de México fade away. They began documenting the signs, sharing photos online, creating a digital archive of this vanishing art form. This act of resistance, fueled by a love for their city’s unique character, led to the creation of RECHIDA, the Chilango Network for the Defense of Folk Art and Design. The Letreros de la Ciudad de México may be gone from the physical landscape, but their memory lives on. They serve as a reminder of the vibrant spirit of Mexico City and the importance of preserving its cultural heritage. They are a testament to the power of art to connect us, to create a sense of community, and to bring joy to our everyday lives.