A hijacked history?
The José Martí Memorial was constructed during the presidency of Fulgencio Batista, as part of his plans to construct one of the world’s largest city squares: the Plaza Cívica (‘Civic Square’). The memorial, and the square, were to pay tribute to the heroes who helped liberate Cuba from Spain.
However, no sooner was the square constructed than Batista was deposed. The plaza underwent a full identity re-brand.
Becoming the Plaza de la Revolución in 1959, the space was used for the political rallies and addresses of Fidel Castro, and has become a permanent outpost for revolutionary Cuba. The space is heavily guarded, shadeless, and barren.
As the faces of Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos stare down upon the plaza, one can’t help but feel that the original vision for ‘civility’ in this square has been lost.
