Tlatelolco, héroe y mártir de las libertades. 1968 Mural

Nicandro Puente’s spirit flows through Tlatelolco. His vibrant murals whisper stories of resilience and cultural pride. Tlatelolco, héroe y mártir de las libertades. 1968, a mural started in 2003, stood as a testament to this vibrant community. It became a part of Tlatelolco’s identity. Then, one day in 2019, it vanished. Covered by a bland advertisement. Imagine the shock of the residents. This wasn’t just any wall. It was a piece of their history, a vibrant tapestry woven into the fabric of Tlatelolco. The mural, though unfinished, held immense cultural value. It was part of Tlatelolco’s designation as a Patrimonio Cultural Intangible de la Ciudad de México in 2018. This declaration recognized Tlatelolco’s unique urban landscape, reflecting centuries of Mexican society. This included Nicandro Puente’s other murals, “Tlatelolco, raíz y expresión de México”, “Homenaje a la mujer”, and “Tlatelolco 1985: sismo y resurrección”. The erasure of “Héroe y mártir” felt like a betrayal. A deal had been struck. The advertising company, representing Danone, promised a hefty sum. Seven thousand pesos per apartment, ten thousand per building entrance. In exchange, they would temporarily cover Puente’s mural for a commercial. They vowed to restore it afterward. The residents of the General Anaya building, where the mural resided, were divided. Some saw an opportunity, a chance to benefit financially from an incomplete artwork. Others clung to the mural’s significance, its recognition as heritage. The decision, shrouded in whispers and closed-door meetings, ultimately favored the advertisement. The mural, approximately 20 meters high, disappeared under a layer of paint. The silence of the local authorities was deafening. Outraged residents and local organizations, like TlatelolcoTV, demanded answers from the city government. Only the Secretary of Culture offered a response, promising an investigation that seemed to fade into the background. Many residents, unaware of Nicandro Puente’s legacy, remained indifferent to the mural’s fate. For them, it was simply a wall. For others, it was a heartbreaking loss. The story of Tlatelolco, héroe y mártir de las libertades. 1968, is a stark reminder of the tension between commerce and culture. It’s a testament to the power of art to ignite a community and the pain of its erasure. It asks us, what is the price of our heritage? And who has the right to decide its fate?