THE PHANTOM OF THE POSTWAR PERIOD VISITS GUATEMALA'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY
Digital photography
2014
100 x 66 cm
Installation of five photographs printed on paper Hahnemühle 100% cotton
Edition of four copies + one artist proof
The ghost of the post-war period visits the National Museum of History of Guatemala, which refers to the military power in the political arena, which is reinforced by the Constitution of 1945 and is in force until today in the background of government power, creating criminal structures of parapolitics. However, with the presidency of Vinicio Cerezo, civilian governance is institutionalized, putting an end to 33 years of military authoritarianism in Guatemala. On November 6th, 2011, Guatemala will once again have a retired general, Otto Perez Molina (who is currently under arrest for his involvement in the "La Linea" corruption case), in public office.
The National Museum of History of Guatemala is an institution dedicated to the protection and dissemination of the country's national history. Unfortunately, it does not have the budget or the proper administration to fully comply with its functions.
These two situations - the lack of memory of Guatemalans in the face of repression and dictatorship, evidenced by the election of another president linked to military power and the disgraceful history of the armed conflict, on the one hand, and the deplorable state in which the National Museum of Guatemalan History is located, on the other hand - are intertwined in this photographic series of six images in which a ghost wearing military camouflage takes a tour of this sad museum.
