Sometimes even the best intentions don’t yield the expected results. Here is a small selection of Guadalajara’s most hated monuments.
Whether due to their design, location, or even the timing of their unveiling, not all of them managed to win over the public.
Some have sparked controversy from the day they were unveiled; others quickly became memes. The truth is that they never quite won over the people of Guadalajara.
Syncretism
Located on Calzada del Federalismo, this work by Ismael Vargas is probably the most controversial of the decade. It blends the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe with the Mexica goddess Coatlicue. Conservative groups held marches demanding its removal, considering it a religious offense.
The Arches of the Millennium
A work that cannot go unnoticed at the intersection of Lázaro Cárdenas Avenue and Mariano Otero Street. The “hatred” here stems from the eternity it took to complete (around 20 years), and many dismiss the result as simplistic given the time and investment involved.
El Palomar
This posthumous work cost approximately 40 million pesos. We’re not sure if it can be considered a Barragán, and some critics point out that it disrupts the harmony with the rest of the Historic Center’s aesthetic. You’ll find it on Paseo Alcalde.
The Three Graces
Located on Av. Lázaro Cárdenas, these enormous bronze figures by Sergio Garval sparked controversy from the very beginning. The public was put off by their cost (more than 10 million pesos) and the fact that they did not fit the traditional idea of “beauty.”
Empty Library
A piece by Jorge Méndez Blake is a brick structure that, according to urban critics, looks like a half-finished building. Its minimalism can be mistaken for a lack of effort and resources.
La Pluma
A giant feather stuck in the ground, created by artist Pedro Escapa in tribute to murdered journalists. It was a symbol of traffic chaos during the construction of Line 3. Many citizens rejected it, believing that money was being wasted on “ornaments” while the city lay in ruins.
