Santa Cruz de Tenerife 21 Mar. (Europa Press) –
Izquierda Canaria (IUC) has submitted objections during the public consultation pertaining to the declaration process of the ‘monument to Franco’ as a Cultural Interest (BIC), emphasising its lack of artistic merit and its violation of democratic memory legislation.
The objections, formally submitted to the Insular Administration, contend that this monument, created by the sculptor Juan de Ávalos during the height of Franco’s dictatorship, serves as a symbol of the regime’s glorification, making its continued presence in public spaces incompatible with current historical memory regulations.
Consequently, the organisation notes that Law 20/2022 on Democratic Memory mandates the removal of commemorative elements associated with the dictatorship that elevate its figures or legitimise its ideology.
In this context, it asserts that the sculpture flagrantly violates this principle as it is “a monument celebrating Franco that contradicts democratic values.”
According to IUC, “this monument is not merely a sculptural entity, but a propaganda relic of Franco, promoted by the regime to glorify the dictator’s image; its presence in the public space perpetuates a narrative that legitimises the 1936 coup d’état and the dictatorship that followed.”
The objections document also underscores that similar actions have occurred elsewhere in Spain to remove elements that exalt Franco.
“Instances such as the removal of Franco’s last statue in Melilla or the withdrawal of the monument to the fallen in Pamplona illustrate that the existing regulatory framework necessitates active measures in this regard,” it states.
Besides contravening the Democratic Memory Law, IUC argues that the Ávalos sculpture does not fulfill the criteria to be classified as BIC according to Law 11/2019 regarding the Cultural Heritage of the Canary Islands.
“For a piece to be declared of cultural significance, it must possess exceptional artistic value, which this work lacks,” the report articulates.
The technical assessment presented in the objections suggests that Ávalos’s sculpture exemplifies sculptural academicism “without innovation or significance” in the context of contemporary art history.
Suggests a Reinterpretation
The work has not had a noteworthy influence on the evolution of Spanish art, nor has it been subjected to academic scrutiny that positions it as a landmark in sculptural discourse.
In fact, technical evaluations from entities such as the University of La Laguna and Museums of Tenerife have refuted its artistic uniqueness.
In its objections, the United Left Canaria not only demands the rejection of the BIC declaration, but also proposes an alternative wherein the monument could be recontextualised within a museum setting.
This approach would permit its contextualisation within an educational and historical framework that elucidates the sculpture’s role in Franco’s propaganda, rather than allowing it to persist in a public setting devoid of critical interpretation.
“The appropriate location for this monument is not in the streets of Santa Cruz, but in a space dedicated to remembrance where it can be analysed through the historical and democratic lens it warrants. Retaining it in its current position is an affront to the victims of Franco and to the democratic ideals of our society,” it concludes.
