Claiming the Public Space: The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo / La produccion del espacio público: Las...
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ii;inis1 crittcsand biographeB haveseenthen as €xcepiional L0hen'a5, d€sa'ir(do plolicarslle as d slrlciones sDc,lesde clrss v individuah or fenate bohenians, publicly flaunting class a.d gender distinctionsr in confast, womcn in Seneral, and worlting'cla$ women in parlicuLar, are presented as unrnlen iiolal agents of a coileciive social proiect, acling out assigned icripts. As a class,women share the ProbLenaiic status of polit icaUy o. cuiturdLly colorized populations Both are seen as pas_ sxel! tfans{ormed by lo!.ed noCernizalion lather than as approprialing nodemjty on deir own and, through this aPpro pfiarion, as being able to change the world thei 1s lrans de Erss seoales, [tr cambio, se presc an a las nuietes en geisrar' v ras de clase rdbajadora .n !a iculat!como agenlet carentes e inv0lunlarios de un Doyeclo s!cial colectivo, en que realizan papeles asignados Las mujsiescomo rrupo categona .ompaJlan la condici6n problcn'iic' de todapobl.ci6nes polllica o culluralneile colonizada La doididi6n de coloiirado implic! que uno es objelo do unanodotnizaci6n l0rzada v no ur sujsto capaz de apropiar ra n0demidad ior si mishdv 'ri t'nstdrmar e! mutrdo que o trarslorna. 0asde esia po6pectiva es dllicil recotocer la relevaicit cullural de l. presenla lucha individua y colecliva de la5 nsjeres pd l.aitoinai d eitono urbano, conotamblen es dlliciL .esvaluar la iniluencia d!radera q0e hai ter do l0seiclaves tradicion.les de n0leres qua se oirernar0tr en la ciudad pre-m0dsma. Muchos de estos erclavcs conlintan desempenai' do s!s iradlclonales r0les luncionales y s0ciales, c0mo es er caso oe ros lavadercs prlblicos de todas las Crandes ciudades de la Indiav l0s Frofr rhis pespectiv. il is diflicult to see the cuent individual anC collc.tive sfuggle ol women to tfans]olm urban env'ron nril. a: anythirg of cultrral signilicance, of io re evaluate the erdrrirg jnil|ence oI iraditional femalee.clales orignrated in thJ !renodeii cily \l3a-t ol lhese erclares continle to serve
Transcript of Claiming the Public Space: The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo / La produccion del espacio público: Las...
ii;inis1 crittcs and biographeB have seen then as €xcepiional L0hen'a5, d€sa' i r (do plol icarsl le as d s l r lc iones sDc, les de clrss v
individuah or fenate bohenians, publicly flaunting class a.d
gender distinctionsr in confast, womcn in Seneral, and
worlting'cla$ women in parlicuLar, are presented as unrnlen
iiolal agents of a coileciive social proiect, acling out assigned
icripts. As a class, women share the ProbLenaiic status of polit
icaUy o. cuiturdLly colorized populations Both are seen as pas_
sxel! tfans{ormed by lo!.ed noCernizalion lather than as
approprialing nodemjty on deir own and, through this aPpro
pfiarion, as being able to change the world thei 1s lrans
de Erss seoales, [tr cambio, se presc an a las nuietes en geisrar' v ras
de clase rdbajadora .n !a iculat! como agenlet carentes e inv0lunlarios
de un Doyeclo s!cial colectivo, en que realizan papeles asignados Las
mujsies como rrupo categona .ompaJlan la condici6n problcn'iic' de
toda pobl .c i6nes pol l l ica o cul luralnei le colonizada La doididi6n de
coloi i rado impl ic! que uno es objelo do una nodotnizaci6n l0rzada v no
ur sujsto capaz de apropiar ra n0demidad ior si mishd v 'ri t'nstdrmar
e! mutrdo que o trarslorna.
0asde esia po6pect iva es dl l ic i l recotocer la relevaic i t cul lural de l .
presenla lucha indiv idua y colecl iva de la5 nsjeres pd l .a i to inai d
ei tono urbano, cono tamblen es dl l ic iL .esvaluar la in i luencia d!radera
q0e hai ter do l0s eic laves tradic ion. les de n0leres qua se oirernar0tr en
la c iudad pre-m0dsma. Muchos de estos erclavcs conl intan desempenai '
do s!s i radlc lonales r0les luncionales y s0ciales, c0mo es er caso oe ros
lavadercs pr lb l icos de todas las Crandes ciudades de la India v l0s
Frofr rhis pespectiv. il is diflicult to see the cuent individual
anC collc.tive sfuggle ol women to tfans]olm urban env'ron
nril. a: anythirg of cultrral signilicance, of io re evaluate the
erdrrirg jnil|ence oI iraditional female e.clales orignrated in
thJ !renodeii cily \l3a-t ol lhese erclares continle to serve
thei! tadilional f!trctional and social roles, like ihe publ{c
washingbasins in najor lndian cities or th. markels i. Akicu
viltages, wnile otlels have Persisted as svhbolic urban narl(
ings, iike fte forest ol decorated steel poLes that once leld
ctotnesLines in GLasgo{s nost celtral park SoNe ol thesc
enclaves have even become a cilys nosr inp.rlan! open space
like River Walk in Se! Artonlo, Texas, wnec women once
congregated to vash laundrt and socialize
-{ literature is now €metging locused on the particiP.rion bv
narginalized poPulations in the t.ansJormation oi P.stn.derncities and establishing the c:iticat connection bet*een power
and spatialiiy, particulariy withia the disciplines ot ait and
aichitecturai nistory and ar.lilectural and urbla design (t To
ihese coniributions, qhich hlve r€vealed previouslv unnarked
mercadds da alde.s al.icaras. ollos P*sislei como seialDacldI sinboli
or m[ana ..no ,!o el bdsqtrs d. poste! do acerd d€c0radds qtrE et un
tiempo sldieron de tardtd*d d. rdpa sn el prrqtre nis c.ftal de ctas_
g0w, Algun6 de eslos 0ncla!es l*minaron siardo el espacr0 a0rerc pan'
c ipalde una. iudrd, cono * alcaso delPasso del i id ei saIatr l !n io ei
toias, dondr Irs duiere! $ cotrcie93btr antiguamonre par. ravar ra ropa
e irtercambiar iniornacian.
una nueva lit.rrtuE se eib strrgisndo que rnloca e0 la pa{itipaci6n de
Las.poblaciones na4inadas en la nanslormaci6[ de las .iudades [0sl_
nodu0as y que tslablece las conexiones crhicas entre el poder v la
6spacialldad, orpeairln.ik si la hisroria del.de v l' atquitectura v sl
dheio sbatro y arq0ihcldnjco. o) A estas contribuciones, que han rcve-
lado si i i6 udaros previ ,mente descor0cido. kf to cdm0 las c0nsscdei_
cias socia es de las ideol0gias Epresivas en la plaRi'!ca0idi u$ana,
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urban sit€s as well as the social consequences oI repressive
urlan pianning ideologies, shouLd be added fedinist anaLvses ol
wonrn r t rad r ional u 'ban enc dva. d rd o ' von F-1 dp!ro!r id
rions ol public sites that synbolized thei! exclusion or restrici
ed status. These appropli.tion5, whether in the lorn o{ one of
the largesl eyer na$ denonstrations held on rhe Washington
MaLL {in lavor olaborlion rights) or it 1!e display olintjnacy jn
very pubiic settings Gu.h as the Frlvate ollerings and nenentos
that conplete Maya Lin\ Vietnan Menorial and compose rhe
nonunental Names Quil! comnenorating AIDS victims) con
tinue to establi5h wornen s rights not nerely b nrhabit but also
lo lranslorn the plblic ieatn ol the ciiy tt is in such sitlarions
rhat women hdre be€n most eliective in const.ucnng them
selves as transiorf,ative subjects, aitering soci"ty s perception
ol public space ard inscribing their own stories into the urlran
debertrn agregrise 1os anilisis lef,inklas de los .rcla!es t'adici0iales
de mujecs y de las aprcpiadiores que hri hecfo nBi0res !e rugares
pibLicos q{e simbrlizrban s!.rtlusi6tr o estalus Estringido Fslas
apropiaciodes, y, sta en la loma de uia de las frrs gundes c0ncenta'
c lones de nasas etr washington (a lav( del dnecho alabor ld l . e i ras
demostrrci!nes de sertinkitos tntimos si l!gares pfblic0s (con0 l0s
olrecinisrtos y obietos .0inemomtivos qu. .onpleian el moi!frenio a
los caidos en vieiiam de Nlaya tin v que lrmbi6n conP0nan e! mtnumen'
taL '0uilt de los omb..s qua condedora a las victimas del SIDA),
conlinrlai esiableci!ndo 1.s dsrschos da La n!1.r no !d!ams0G 0e
Iabitar! siio tanbiei de translornar.l espa.ro 0iblico de l: 'indad
Es
en este iipo de sit!mirjn d0ide las oujsrss lrai sido m,s et'Ltv's c0m0
sujel0s translormad0.es, allerando h Petep.i6i de la sociedad s0rtB el
sspa. io pibl ico nientns ins6iben sus propks his lo. ias sn elpal inpse$
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-\s in ai1 instances where the lopic ol discussio! is as complex
$ tje iransformative presence ol wohen in the c'!y-and pa.
lr.ularl"v lvhen lhis topic does not yetoperate within an estab-
i\ted theo.etical lranework the main diftjculty is lo establish
a poinr oI enty. h the presen! essay I propose enknng ihs
re.ritory throu8h the exaf,ination of one draaatic cae of a
successlul, endlring appropdalion:lhe Molhers oithe PLaza de
\layo inArgentina. (i) This snall b ut pelsislent band oI sonen
protesres lirst captur€d international attenlion in thc mid_
1970s with their sustained presence in the naiionh Principal"space ol prblic appearance, as Hanna Arendt caled the syn'
boLtc lealm of social rcpresentarion, L\at is controLled bv the
dominant political or econonic slructures oi society. This case
iLluskal6 the plocess that leads f.oh the embodiment oitradi
tionai roles and assigned sdiPts as wives and mothers to tbe
eme!8ence of th€ active, transfo.native subject, in spite o1-or
perhaps because ol the lhreat or actlaiily oI physicalviolenc€
thar acts of protert attraci in auiocratic societies. As we will
s.., thi3 case is also enblenatic ol archit€cturel complicity
with power in deating a synboiic systen oI represenration,
usually oI power hierarchies. The hegemony of this system has
b.en thteaiened ever since ihe invention oi the Pdnting P..$and is nowclained by electronic media and its viltuai space of
comnunication. rinalLy, the Mothers oI ?laza de Mayos
appropriation ol the public squafe as a stage fo! th€ enachent
of their plea is a nanilestation oI purli. sP4.e as social pro-
duction. Then redefin'tjon ol that space suggests that the pub
tic realn neither rdides in nor can be represented bybuildings
and spaces but rather is sunmoned into elistence by social
TRE MOTHERS OF THE P]-AZA DE MAYO
In Mech 1976, aflef a chaotic period that lollowed JuanPer6n's death, a nilnaly iunta wested power llon Per6ns
wido{, Isabel, in ordd (as the jrnta claimed) to rcatore o.der
and peace to the countly. The IiEt neasures towar& achievinB
rhis eoal *ere similar to those ot General Pinochet in Chile
th.ee yeas eadier, and i,acluded th€ suspension of all civil
rights, the dissolution olall Political parties, and the placenent
ol labor dions and univesities under Covernment .ontlol lr
would take seven long, dark years lor a democratically electedgovernnent to be lesrored to Argentina, which at l4t Pernitted ar evaluanon of the extent oI open kidnappings, torture,
and execulions of civilihs tole.atedby L\e military. Because ol
the clandesline, unrecorded acriviiies oi th€ Parahilitarygroups chalged wiih these deeds, and becaure manyburialsites
srill lemain undisciosed, agreenents as to the €xacl nudber oI
"disappeared' nay never be achieved, but estinates range fron
nine thodand to thirty thousand. Inquiries to the police about
the tate oI detainees went unanswered Luis PueDzot 198s
$,16, rhe Olticial Slory, ofiers glimpses into the toiture and
como siemprr ocure clando ol tema es t.r compl.io com. e! .l de la
pGs.icia thisformrdor. dt l. mujc..t lr ciud,d+specialnonr. c(ai-
do el td0ico iodavir m rsti ubicrdo d.tr!rc d! un rarco le6tico.3t.blt'
cidrlo m& dilicil rs enco rar !n trilo d. . 8d.. En etta Bn*yo
DroDo.go . rar a sste I! iorio .x.Eirando el c.so drar,lic. d. n.
,propiaci,i lorrrd. coi 6xito t q$ 5! fia nafletrido lkme du.rtrl.Itrgot
aior: L.s nrdFs d. la Plaza da rrayr.n a18enlint 'r'
E!tt p!q!eia !.rc
pstsist.nt. b.nda d. muleres m,trilesr2des c,pturn por priner. vrz la
.leici6i intdh.eion.l a nedi.doi d. lG .no3 !.|.n|a con !u t..ltrcracoistantt 6r l. plar. prircipal d. l. i.citn, qua !3, como dnli H n.
Alendl, el canFo 3idbtlico de 1. rcpr.5€0taci6R soci.l c0 t0lad0 por la3
*tuclurrs p.lnicas y .cotr6micas d. lt 3oci.dad, tsl. c,5o ilusrd .t
proc!so q!e lleva a la inDorpDrt6i6n d. tol.s v guion* lrtdicion.les
$istrados.las mljerri dsnrd de {n nu.vo cond.plo d. wslj.torclivo,
rnFlom.dor. to nrs mtable r! qu. .sta r.d.lini.i6n dt itlet te ir
d.do iir.t. .l rsgo y la halid.d i. Ia violoncia ,lslca qu. .lr.tn los
acl6 dE grocsta en las 3oci.dades aultcrriticas, como v.t.nos, *1.
c.so. ! .mbrem!t i . r dr la com0l ic ida4 d. l . a lqui t tDtur. coi t l !od.r .n
l. creaci6r d! !i ltt.ma iinb6lico dc re9r*enbcidi, geneElFan|, ie
ierarqli.s dt poder. la h.e.noila de 8ta siskna ia eid! .nenazada
d*dE l! lnveici6i da l. inprent y.ior. por l$ nedios tl.clrtIicot !.
comunicrci6n t s! ..!.cit vnlurl- Fii.lmedt , t. ,propi.ci6r qlo l.s
Mrdres han necio d. la Plrz. de Mayo .. una m.iii.iltci6n de la pro_
ducci6i sociat de ur nu.vo eilr.io rrrlico su r.d.rlqiciol da l. pllza
3trgi6re qu. la .el€rt p|]hlica io rcsid. ri po.d. s.r t.9r*e.tada Pqt.dltlclos y .rpaclDs, sino que ts ctisl.uida por i.s tcDioi.!:..it1.5
rAs MA0its 0F rA PLAzr r t MAY0
tr h.Ed dr 1976, d.sEu65 dol gertodo ca6lico qu. sigui6.la mueft. d.
lu.n Per6i, ui. junla nllllat l. arab.t6 elp0dei a itrvtudr, cor tr o!1._
to (segrjr dijo 'a
iunta) d. ptter Drd.i yt.aer It prz de nn.v..llat5.susprine.as m.didas lu.roi slmil.rei a Irs dei Gen.bl PiNchdt en cnil.
ne! anos .nlos, Incl!v.rdd la su.psnii6[ de todo5 los derecho. civiles!
ra di3olucl6n do todo! lor 9. ldos poltlicos t .l sodelini.nto r. lod0s
lD3 siidi.atot y l.s univesidadar.l coilrol d.llobi.mo. Pa3.rier si.ld
aio! Irrgos y oscurosail.s da que lqsitina volviot. a lener un gobre160
rlrcro, lo que por lo n.ios permiti6 un. rrallacadn d. l. gBn canlidad
dr lecua tu5 abiertos, toduras y .jccucioD.s de cavales qu. lu.ron
iisirdos 0or lor mililarrs y 6!yo! ote.alivos ..tuaton clandesllna e
indocrmeitadrm;nl?. Dtda esta.i.nd.slitridad v!lh.cho d. qr..in 5e
d.scoiocEi huchos de lo! lugar.s ds eilltfo3, quizr3 [unt.3.1l.guo a
sabar sl iim.rc etacto d3 los 'desaparrcldos, p.lo l0! osxmaoos
o3cjlan enlre nuev. Y kcinta hil. Las indrgzcion.r dirigidss 3 la politla
.cBi.a dsl prhdero ds los detenidos qu.da.ot 3ii r.spu.5lt, Elliln de
Luis Pu.nzo de l935, La hklo.ir otici.l,'da un. idsa de la lo^urq y la
degradaci6n que s!lrieroi miles ds honbG!, nujercs y h.sla bebos,
racidos baio a(etio, que dtr algntros caeos lustun .dottrdos Por ras
iaditiar de los to:rluradores.
las'de!aparici0ncs' crcarcn electivanent6 un f,iedo conplicila: much0s
s.crestms ss llsv.rcn a c.b0 rI rleM l!z del dia y 3in quc las victimas
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degradaiion endured by ihousa'& of nen, wonen, and even
babies, bom in detention, sone ol whom eere adopled by the
''Disappearuces ' we.e very effective in cteating conPlicitou
lealr nany kidnappings were corducted inbroad dayljght, and
the victims had not nece$arily demonstrated oPen deliance ot
the nilirary.In fact,latef stalisrics show rnd ahos!hall oI the
kidnalpilgs inrolved witnesses, including clildrcn, relatives,
and iriends oi those suspected ol subversion. Cilen lhe elfec_
riveness of arbitrary tenor in inposing silenc., h astonishirg
thar the lublic dema!.ls oI le$ thd a score of bereaved
women who wanled to know what had happened ro lneir chil
dren contributed so nuch to the nilirary's lali lron power
Their sjlent prot€st, opposed ro 1he siletce oI the artho.itics,
evertuaLly had international resonance, p.onPting a harsh
denunciation ol the Argentinean nilitary, which led, finally, to
ihe denise ol state tedorisn ard the election oI a denooallc
The.ctions ofthe "Mothels,'as they cane to be knom, eien-
llilied akind of spatial and urban approprjation ft.r onginates
in private acls that acqulre public siSnificance, thus question_
ing rhe boundari€s of ihese two connonLy opposed concePts.
cenderisu6, too, were not unimport.trr. Th€ Motheis'approprjation ol th. plaza was nothidg like ! heloic final E$aulr on
a ciradel. lnstead, i! succeeded because oI ils etrdulance ovet a
protracted period, which cotld oniy hdpPen bec5use the Moth'
e6 were conspicuoudy ignored try rhe police, the public, 5nd
the national press. As older wonen they weie no longer sexualLy
dsjrable, and as working'class eoden they vere ofan ilferior
ilk. Nevertheless, rheir mothshood status denand€d coNen-
tionaL respect. Communicanng neither attractiotr nor rhreat,
they w€re characterized by the govelnnent d nadwonen '
The resolt of their public tenacity, which started with the body
exposed io violence, erenrually evolved inio a powelIul a.chi_
tscture ol polirical resistance.
Plaza d. Mayo is Argenti.as synbolic eqdvabnr oi iheWash
ington Mall. lt is, ho{ever, a much snalLer and tery diffe.enl
kind oI space: an !.ban square that etolved lrom lhe Spadsh
Plaza de Amas, a space that hd stood ior nationai unity since
Creoles gathered there to demand independence lron Spain in
tlay ol 1810. The national and interrational visibilily oi Plaza
de ivlayo as tte space ol pubLic appearance loi Aryentineans n
unchailenged. originally, as nandated by the tlaqning ordi-
nances oI the Law olthe lndies, its sides were occuFied by the
colonial Cabildo, or ciiy council, and the Caiholic Cath€dfal
Today th€ most disiinctive structure is the !ink, f,eoclassical
Casa Rosada, the seat ofSovernnent.
Military erercises, executions, and Public narket conningled
in rhe plaza nntil 1884, when Torcualo dc ALvea!, lhe
h.y.n ie6!s.iamente desaliado abi.n.ment. a los nilil.r.! En ei.clo,
l.s .rtadirlicas nrs recientes mu.slr.n qu. tn cdi l. nllad d. los
3eculstr6 bubot.sriEos, incluyendo niio3, Pa .il.sy antgos d..qusl'
lor sospechosN d. subversi6n. Dada la tieclivid.d del l.tror .ibilt..io
pah inpon.r.l3jlsrcioi es.ronb,olo q!. !. puizdo d. mritt.t d...s'
r66d.s 0or rrb.r !l prrad.ro d. 3u3 iijo! hryr co .ibuido lrnlo . It
caida dcl roder mililar. su prolesta sil.nciota,.i oposici6n tl ril.rcio
ds l.s autoridade5, ll.g6 . tsn.r r*omncir iit!fiaciontl, provoc.ido
um denurei. ?nflgic. cotlr. rot nilit r.s argtrti&5, denlicla q!.
l lev6l i Ia ln. t r t . . l t6rhi tu d. l . l tado l . t ior l l ia t a l i t l .cc i6 i de ! i
Las accion.s dc las'Madres," .oho !e las conoc.n, son !i ejeftpl0 de
ci.rro rlDo de aprcPiacl6tr .sP..i.l urban. qu. .uque 3e 0ngrna ei
acro3 tri!ados,.dqui€r. ui ri,iitlc.do prblico,l.n6hetu q& io. h.c!
cu.slionrr Ir irt.nll.ci6i cittt dN coi..pios cosmn.nl. consid.d'
do3 op!.sros, ta l!icidn !dcial d.l g6i.ro tambidn lion6 Itltv.n.ia l.
.rrori.ci6n de la Ela.a no 3. dio cono al.tallo h!tuico lit.l. !n.tun_
.leza. Por rl cD rario..l 6xito de lr, Mad.es 3e debid. su t.rslst.ii.dtr.rnls aios. qu. lue poribla parque il la polici., tri .l blico, ni la
prensa nrcionr l qr i r ieroi r .conoc.r 3u. , is lonci . . cono nr j .Er
mrvors ro lu.ron vlstas cooo srx!.lnette d.t.abl.s, t por .0. d.
cl.se nedia baja o lrrb.jrdora .rri contin.Bd.s socialn.it inl. _
D.*. 9iI anbalgo, su naGrildad ,rigir rtr 16!pcro c0iv.ncioml, Al i0
k.Fmiln ni ataclivo ni .redaza, .l gobia.no
"locai'. tl r..rlt2do d. su t.!.cidld prjblica, qu. Dtn.nzrt al ellal
.xDotror5us cuenos a Ir violanciri iu.la conslruccidn ds uia podetG.
arc!lrcc&ra de r.!ist.icia qolirica,
ti Plaza de Mryo r.pr6sr a pa.t loe aq.nlino3 lo q[. .t lY.shindofl
M.rL a3 rar: los.s lado
THE WHITE KERCHIEFS WERE TIiE FtrR.ST ELEMENTS OF A COMMON
ARCT]ITECTURE EVOLVED FROM THE BODY. LOS PANUELOS
arisiocratic mayor, edbarked on a Haussmanian redodeling of
the cent.r ol Buenos Aires sho|tLy afie. important crvlc srruc
tures-such as Congre$ and the Ministries ol Finance and
Social wetlar€-iad been conpleted. A naior ele4ent ol
Alvea/s plan was Avenida de Mayo, an east-west axis that put
Congress and the Casa Rosada in lull view ol each o1}.r such
a potert urban.epresenration ol lhe checks and balances of ihe
nodern, denocdtic siate tas achieved through selective deno_
lilion, including the removal ofrhe Plaza s narket stells and the
short€nins of ihe hbtolic Csbildos wings by half their originat
length. CunentLy, the plazas innediate area includes several
governnent olfices, the iinancial dishict, and the cilys most
lanous commercial shee! Flolida. This denselv Populatedpedeslrian thoroughiare links Avenida de Mavo to pla?a san
Martin, anoiher najo! urban square. A plastered nasonrv
obelisk, rhe May Pyranid, erecred on ure squafe in 1811 io
na* the first anniveFary oi the popular upraising lor indepen
dence, was rebujit as a taller, more omate structure and piaced
on the uis between Congress and the Casa Rosada. In this
n€w position, ir becane a netaphorical lulcrun in the balance
The now peli'known inage ofa ring olwonen with heads clad
in wnit€ kelchiefs circling the May Pyranid evolved lrom earli_
er spontaneous attemph at communication with govelnmenl
oilicials At fi$t, thi.teen wives and notheru oI the disap-
peared met one anoth€r at the Minisrry ol the lnterior, havins
e{hausted ail sou.ces oi jniormalion abour theii nissing chil-
dren and hlsbands There a snall office lad been oPened to.proce$" cass brolgh1by tlose who had liled w.its ol ,ab€ds
corpus. One vonan rell i! he. sidiet, Azucena villatror de
Vicente, rallied the others: It is not here that we ought to be,
she said, "lt s the llaza de ]tvlayo. And when i\ere afe enough of
us, well go to the Casa Rosada and see the presidert about our
chiidren who are missing' (6) Ar the tine, popuLar denonstra_
tions a! the plaza, i.equently convened by rhe unions as a show
ol suppor! during ]uan Per6ns ten!!e, were strictlv lorbidden
and galherings of nore than teo people were pronpdv dis
persed by tle ever-present seculiry lorces The oliginal group of
thirteen women cane 10 the plaza weadng white kerchieis ini'
tiaUy io identl8r thenselves lo one other Thev ag.ecd to retun
every Thu$day at the end oI the business day in ofde. ro call
ihen presence io the atteniion of sinilarlv aggdeved women
lhc i \ lorher! novpd abour in pai ' r . , r ' h i r g . omDcnio' so
las aia3 delcabildo hi.lirico- Act[alnenl. lss rreas i!m.diai.s t la pku.
'ncl0ven vaias olici.a5 de gobictio, el disfiiro IiDarciero v florida' la
crlle com.rci!l mrs ''mosa
d6 la riudad Esta calle pral0i.l d.isan.ite
pobladr vincula la Av.nid. de isavd r l. Plaza san Ma lr' ol t Plaza
impoaanrs, La Pi.imids d. Mayo, ui obrlisco dt nzntoslerla e gido en
l , p laza en Is l1!ad ma6rr. lp der ai ivetst i io del l .vai lasi .n lo t0p-
ul' Dor l. indepeni.ncia, i!. r.6Dienui$ D.no uM.llructura nr. tlti
y mar d.codda, y lua colocada !n 5l .js eitE !1 Coitt.so v ta Casa
Rosada. En su nu6va oosicidr tt coivi i6 .tr .je de b,ltrza de los
La t n coiocida inag.i del c!rco d. nujeres cotr c.tezas cu!rena3 l0rp.n$lo5 brancos cir.!l.rdo la Pidnid. d! Mavo erolucioi6 paul.tin.-
medta ds divend inlonbs esponlin.oE porconunica6e coD l.s tfi.lal.e
dr g0bierIr. al prliclpio,lrect !3p8as v n.dr8 de 103 rdesaparecad6i
se.nconiraron en el Minislerio del Int.rior, d.s9u65 de haher agolado
toda3 las fu.trt.i dc iororm.citu ace.ca d.l p.Edqt. d. sus hljds v
espoiG. se h.bta ,birrlo .lli !i. p.quen. oicii. pad 'tamilal los
casos que nala0 rqu.ltos qre hthi.r prereitado un aulo ta t"':r t'r
pus. uM :.ioE de $at de s6s.ita aios, Azlcena vilhlllr de vicenl.
rDlusiasn6 a la3 oths: xo es tqui dotrd. d.b.mo5 cslat,'dijo 'siio.i
ra Plaza de MrYo. Y rrando hryi sul crell!i d. no!orri vrnos a tr , 'rcasa Ros!da a ver al Presidcnla v pregnilarle pot nudsnos niios d*a'
!rrocidos,' rs) L.r dsnostacionts p0!ulat!! do la pl.za lBcueit.n.it6
o4aIizadas !or los sindicltos como mu.itns de apoyo duranle la presl'
detrc ia deluaIP.!di .cstahaiesl . ietan. i t .prohibidasenaq0. l mont i lo,
y lastuerzas dc sog0ndad, pr.ra ds!n todo l!g.r, disolvi:n Itpidtm0nl.
cu.lqui.r agrupanienlo d. m& d. dos te6onas El Srupo tliginrl d.
tr6c. nuierei llagd a lz plaza con 5us 6tb.&3 tuble as con paiuelos
bl.ncos pah idei llcaae ums a hs otr.s acotdrror rcgresar ctdr
iuev.s al liiar d.l dia laborar 0td llanar l. alenti6r d. otr:s muier.s
quo estuvi.r.n .!tiaido bajd condiciorss similares LG f,,dtes 16
novian .i p.rcs, tasbialdo rlgulame . de conpriaE prit iit.rc,n'
biar irlormaci6tr 3itr d.jar dD obsetvat !1 t.sl.n.nlo conro rt! drs0n.a'
cioiEs- Fiiahetrlo rtrderoi el !.tEris de la pEBa inteFr.ionalv.l d.
ras orgadi2rcionos de der.thos [!minosi utra de las curlss 0lieci0 una
oficina [aD qus las n{ierF s. prdieran rcutrir en !rivad0 A ptsar do
s!to inc6ntivo de abandonar l. lltza por un lugar fli5 geguro,las Madres
f ianrtrv isron s! pr .sstrc i t s imb6l ica.n su narcha alreded0r de ra
Pi,tnide de Mava. Aquel objeto,latr calgado de .soci.ciones cullurales v
serual.s, se convidi6 en elloco simbtlico de lo que cononz6 cono una
resruasia l i tedlalnandalo 0ol ichl que les ord. i i q!e c i rc! lamr.-
BLANCOS FUERON LOS
ARQUITECTURA COMON QUEPRIII4EROS ELEMENTOS DE UNA
EVOLUCIONO DEL CUERPO.
66
that they could exchange informatio! while stiLl observing the
lule against denonshations. Eventualiy they attracted lhe inlei.
est ol the inlernational press and human .ights oryanizations,
one ot which provided an office where the romen coul<l co!.gregate privately Despire this incentive to abandon the plaza
for a sal€! location, the Mothers sustained a symbolic plesence
in the tord ol a silent narch encircling the May Pyranid. That
lofh, so loaded with culluial and sexual associalions, became
rhe symbolic iocus ol what starled as a liler4l response to the
polices dem.nd that the somen rcirculate.
The wlir€ kerchieh were the lirs! elemerts ol a comnon archi
tectule evolved ffom the body. aheJ vere adopted lron rhe
cloth diapers which a lew oI the Mothels had worn on thetr
heads in a pilgrimage to rhe Virgin oI Lujens sanctuafy The
diapers were those ol their own nissitg chiLdren, whde nanes
were enbrcidered o! $en, and formed a headgeai that had
diffefeniiared rhe Mothels lrom fie multitude oI olher wonen
in kerchiels ofl that religious narch. ln later denonstiations
the Mothen eonstlqslgd full-size cddboard silhouettes repre-
senrilgtheir nissing childre. and husbands, and shieLdingtheir
bodies *ith the ghostlyblanks ol the "disappeared.
By 1982, the military had pioven ilself unabLe to sovern the
country or contiol Nnawayinflation oihofe rhan 1000 percenr
pe! year. The provhion olbasic se(ices was frequently disrupr
ed by th. still poqerful Peronisla labor urio.s, and msny lo.aL
industries had gone banloupt due ro the conParative cheaPness
ol inported goods unde! an econonic policy ihat eliminated
nost inport tares. Then, in that sane year, the niliiary govern
nenl enbartied on an ultimately ruinous war wth Gleat
Britain ove! the sove.eignty o1 the FalhlanC/Malvinas lslands
lvith the help oI the Uniled States sateLlite intelligetrce and lar
IHT CIRCUTAR MARCI] AROIIIIO INE MAY IYRAM D TA ATCllIAIREOTOOI OTt^ flRlfit0t 0r MAY0 c0uRrEsY/c0Rltsll aRcHlv0 MA0Rts ct PuzA 0[
los paiuelos blrn.os irerun los prif,ei6 .lenBntos de una alquil!ctun
cofiin q!e.voluoi!trri del 6!e$0. Los adoptator de los paial.s de t.i,
qu. algunas da las Mrdrs3 h.biai llrvad0 .n sus c.bezrs .n ra percgn'
n.c16i ar santuario ds la virgen d6 Luiri. tos pairl.5 3En 1os d. !us
propios hijos dcsalaFcidos, cuy0s nonbresaparccian bordrd0s en !ll.s,
y qre l.s distiigrian de la nulftud de muierlr c.i paiuelos en asa
marcha religlosa. is ad6l.nt. .i lus def,oslraciotro3 l.! Midrca
consruyero! siltrstas de cadan de lrn!io real Eptesentatdo a sus
hijos y .sposos d?sapareDidt3, s!ctdatrdo sus cualp0s con .sas nguras
Prra 1932 los mililar.! s. habi.i moslrado Indpaces de g0!ernar er
pais o conxolarla inuaci6[ gal0!rtrt. de mes de! i 000% aLait toe ain
podsrosos sindicato. !srunistas iilE(unpirn la provismr dc sed'crd!
bisicos lr.cu.ntamenle, yduchas induslrirs locales hrtian q!ebrado p0r
no pod6r contelt con l8s pr.cio6 h.jos de l!3 ptlduclos lmpo ados,
rNrllads n. u.r polfii$ ecoi6mica d6 oliniiar l, nry0rl. de lo.
imp0eslos ds impo acidn. Para colno, .se nisno aid.l gobieho militar
s. enharc6 en uM guetra ruiios. co0ka Grii Srutai. sobra la iob6taila
de las Glr5 lValviMs/F.lkland. coi l..yuda de la int.ligeicia sal6lilr de
los Estados unidos y su pod* naval supe or, Gran Srelaia gan6 coi
poc.s iajasi hienlra3 alg.ntitra pedi6 nile. d3 soldad0s nal0qur!.dos
y Far .ntr!nrdos, El gobjerno militar, que habla lnunciado ha vict0ria
lalsa por lslevisi6n nostrando ro!los ds.ire viel0s como 5i tusntr da
acl!alidad, se vio loEado a doFr sl podqr Ysfg0izosam6trl. por la
indignacidn popular cuandd 3e supo la !edad. D0spu6s de1 dciiudb€ del
gobisdo milit.f,l. pmsenci. de l.s llad..s lu6 prcmiiente sn las testivi
dad.s que se celrbraroi ed la Piaza de Mayo, sus paitrdos rsvdlottando
aLegreneite, creando ud loldo gigrnlosc0 s0bG los celebra[tes. Hasla
hoy .onlinuan su marcha rircular, como uta especie de nonune(io
viv jef ts qus recu.da alpuablo sus er igenciasv p6tras, p idrrndo.uenias
y crstigo para los responsablss de la desaparici6i de 36 .slosos
67
TI
A] CILIBRAIIOIIIII PIAZA DT IIAYOrltrH scARvEs srGnE0 3Y rnlER]TAI]OIIAI SUPPORIERS OF IHIl i0tHERs, 193? ct taSRlcl0l lxLA PIAZt 0! rY0 C0lt ul I0t000t P^iurrss f lRr i l00s t0r A l -g0s IrrERltAct0tiIts 0t Lts
c0RItslr, ARcH v0 MADnrs 0t
f acrNG PAGVPI6ITA roYrCE[ItAruorHeR r00r(Nc ar PH0r0s 0fIRE O SAPPTAREO. IIII'iIIAIIOIIAL|]|0MEIs 0AY, t{ARCR 3, !93{r\raoRt 0t Ptar^ Dr i[AY0 MrRllts f0r0s 0E r0s 0ts^t^ttcr-D0s. fl.0tr 1[nrrrcr0r|r 0a rlr iut !R,r t r Br rrrr iz0 0t 19N4c0uRltsY/D0RItsla aRorrvo
m\'.Nl -{$
supeiio. naval might Orear Britain won with ier casualties,
whiie Argentina lost thousands of iuequipped and iil-trained
soldiers The military governnent, which had broadcast a fake
viclory on television using old movie reeLs rather than cudent
filn footage, was for.ed to step down in shane by the popular
oulcry tlat followed. Fouowins the collapse ol the military gov
ernnen!, the Mothers wele a piominent Presence at the lestivi'
ties i. Plaza de Mayo, rheir kerchieis joyouslyjoined 4 bunring
to create a city-siz€d tent ove! the celeblants. They have con-
tinued thet cncula! march to ihis day, as a kind ol living
nenorial and to pronote their demands lor lull accounlability
and punishn€nt fo! those responsibl€ lor th€ disappea.ance oI
$€n husbands and children
After the election oI a democratic government, the nilitary
leadeship was prosecuted in cjvil raiher than nilitary coulr,
re lting in jail sentences ior a iew senerals and annesty lor
other nililary personnel. Although the aBnesty was lorcelulll'
contested by th. Mothers and other or8anizations, the lroteslwas s€en by dany as divisive. Nevertheless, the Mothe6 and a
related organization oI grandnothers pre$ed on with atienpts
to lind .ecords abou! disappearances and lough! in the courts
to iecover thei! clildren and Cfandchiidren. Then, early in
1995, nore than a decade alter the resioration ol denocraticgovehden! a lerir€d lieutenant publicly conlessed to having
dunped scores ot drugged but still living people lron a heli_
copter inro the open ocean, and he inviied other nilitaly nen
on sinilar asignments io come iorth. The lvlothers wele pre-
sent to demonsr.ak this time as well, bul now the buntins had
becone a gigantic sheei that was wated overhead as an angry,
Despu,s d. li 6ldcci6r del g0bi.rno dsmocrrtico, los lldetur nilil.Es
tr!iotr erjuicbdos ti codss civiles, donde vanos lueroi c.nd.n,dds a
c,rcel y dtro! amtristirdos. aunqua las Madr.s v otE. oryat@cror.!
pr0restrrcn t!c 6neite la anini3iia, mu.hos cnlica.0n tsa prora{a !otdivkiea, o obstrit., las Madre3 y una orgaii2acidtr r.l.cron.d. coi
.lla!, lr! Ab!.las de la Pla?, de Mayo, ,resion.ron para eic0ntar t0cu-
moitacidn de las desaparicionss y p!lerr0tr 0n Las cortes para rucup.dt
a s tiios y ii6ros. Mris adelaite, r princlpios d. 1995, fir! dc uia
d6cad. despu6s de la r.31.!.acldn der gobi.rno denocralic0, rn l.nr.dl.
r. rad0 conles6 p0blicameite habti lirado d*dd un helic0!terc a
mnchas pe60nas drogada! ptro aii vivas al dc6aro abie o,. invil6 a
01rcs milirsre3 qu. hdiai crnplidd lar.ar similrds a qr. s:ri,r,n .0i
5N declaiacionrs. tas Madrrs !. ticisroi p.Fetrl.s 3i esra oc.eronran_
bidn, p*o ahora el revoloteo de padu6lor se coiv.dta. i unr saban.
!i3anl. qud otrdulaha p0r encima dB los
Lrs Madrss sosluvlsron su conlrtl sohre un tsp.cio urbat0 inp0 rnt. d!
h nisma torm, en qrs Los:croret, htiltrines o nagos c0itrclai sl e3c*
na o, * t rb lscisnd0 una presenci . que simult id.ansnt3 i lega var i [ . d
6!p.cio vaci0 Irente aL piblic0. cono dirla llen L.lebre, l0s cuelp0s
producei esoaci. .l intrcducir direcci6n, rolaci6n, orieftaci6n, oc!pici0i,
y al organiuar un sirio (tordr) n6dia e adenar.s,l6zas v narcar. o) la
edruciuE l0rmrl de estos actos su capa.idad de r.luncionalitai l0s
!spacios udanos erhl.ilcs y ol podcr vkual de los acces0rios d. ap0v0
D0nxibryen, craaf s l espacio pr:bi ico.
Lo que la l ta en el debate acl !a lsobre la destpar ic idn del esp.cio pr lh l ico
es la conclench de la p6dida del pod.r do la alquilecrtrra para repr*etr
lar al prolttd cdno ufa comunidad vlva, aclia v aulodctemlnante tn
cambio, e debate sa.nfoca caslexclusivaneic en el t tpaciot&/td ' s i
toma. ei c(eih la acci6n soc rl que hace que cl amhients cob.e !ld, o
.anbie s! signilicado. El debalc pareciera enat alascad. -Ai rrned0s
68
ai. \llthes were ableto sustain conkol ol an importanlrban
::r:a nrch as actors, dalcers or magicians contrcl the stage bv
:;eli ability to estabLish a Piesence thal borh opposes and acti'
,a,* rhe toid represent€d bv the audietrce To'laraphrase
lienri Lefebvre, bodies produce space bv introducing direction'
.oialion, orientalion, occlpation and bv organ'zi!8 a toPos
through gestures, traces and narks o The lornal structure ol
these actions, their abilitv to refunctionalize 4istng urbd
spaces, and the visual power oi the supPorring prop( 'ontnbule
lo the creation olPublic space
What js missing lrom the cuten! debale about lh-' demhe ol
oubLic sDace is an awa.eless ol the loss oI afchilectufes power
io leprese the purlt., as a living, acttns and self determinins
conFunity. tnstead, the d€bate locuses alnost excLusiveLv on
tb,e physi.4t space ol ptbl:'c apPearance, without reSa'd loi the
social acrior that can make thai environnenl
change its meaning The debare appears to be nned in regrets
oter the replacenent ol squares (for Phich Ameri'ans never
had nuch use) wiih shopping malls, ihene parks and vnlual
space But tiis locus on phvsical space-and its ideologlcal
Dotential to encompass the public appearance ol aLl peoPLe'
ieeardLes olcotor, ctas aee or sex-loses cledibilitvwhen sPe
cillc cla$* of people are derouncing th€h ev'h*ion and
asserting rleir presence .!d influeEe in public Lii€ The cLaims
ol these excLuaed people lnderscore the roles oI adcess and
dr\edtuflce i\ the production anil representation oI public
,""* , "n".af .* or t " . " . pt j \ ,ca ) or ! i ' rudl ly or ' t r lured
Tn"y a. . ; {sBe(! tar pub iL ,p. ' " " o 'od rced rrroush p_b c
dis-une, u.J irs *p-,entuiion is nor the exclusive lerritolv ol
archileciure, but lt is the Producr ol $e inextlicable rclahon
betwe€n social acdon and phvsicaL space
^;; ; ; ' , - "" ; " , ' .d u, . & '
sd! re spr!tr 4id ''!
ot (Lordor vBp
e,.& e!no& ah er' sP4B (o6d
"n^i d"rbahs s,
"FbLt "d" "' 6
!MEbeo*4'cL}dEqhlddbonriun-'":
. ;;; ;;"* -.,."; -
' i ."
*"q"" ' " - . ' . -
' ' " - . ' ' ' - . r " - - . '^o ' .
Susana Torre k sn architecl, uftan desi3ne' 'nd
educator
practicing in New aork. She vas chan of Parsons School ol
Designt Afcniiectu.e and lnvironmental D€sign Deparlmenr
add the Directo. ol rne cranbiook Academv ol A'1'
sobrc la !ustituci6n de la5 pl.zas-que iunca {u4!n muy 6tdas por r's
.stadouiidels.s de todas nan.d!-pot nltos conBrcialts pa4!t3
temitlc6, y el t!pacio ri ual P.ro tsta !nloq0! 'n
tl 'spacio
tisico-Y
su pdtenciaLid.ol6gico dt adogor la 0resefcia pliblica da todts rts !'r
s0das, sii impodar !u cdlor, clase! tdtd o sexFpitda tredibilidad
ou.rdo dertdiMdas cltsE! de p.stdas denuicia' 3u erclusiitn v hacti
seitk su prts.iciay 3u inlluatcit.i lavidapibli'a La rciviiditaci6n de
estai pe6onas erclridat subEyi l. iIponancia de] sctes'y la rp'riet-
crrei la produccidd y rt!rtsenlaciitr dtl ttprcio piblico iidep'idicrL_
n6nle da edfio ,ste etlacio sB conlliluy' itsica o vldualmente Ttdbi'i
srgi€re qua El aspacio Priblico s. pbdrce a lrtv€! dsl diiiogo liblico' v
su ep16seiltDidI no as ttilitorio eiclusivo d6 li trqlitrctu'a irnd 'r
pr0_
ducro d.la !elrcidn int{ricable enlrd la tcci6n soclalv tl espacio llsic0'
r u' l i .mdo drrnb s tt ' rtd d,t
"-,:."',".--. ."-"-', "','""
;-;";;;;"'.. "' -".""'.'"''-'"
0raclca en Nuela York Fue Chan de a Esclek Pacons de Disedo v
de oepartameito de Areui tecturav Disoio Ambiei ta l vDre' loDdek
Academia de Arte Craibrook
69
