A new sculpture in Stoke-on-Trent, England, pays tribute to the thousands of Mexican mothers searching for missing loved ones, bringing international attention to Mexico’s ongoing missing persons crisis.
The nearly 4-meter tall “Madre Buscadora” (Searching Mother) monument was created during a five-day construction marathon as part of a collaborative exchange between Mexican association Arte Sustentable and British collective B-Arts.
Crafted from wicker and cardboard due to the unavailability of traditional Mexican reed in England, the sculpture depicts a woman with braided hair, hat, shovel, and boots – common attributes of mothers searching for remains of disappeared family members. It also incorporates an actual missing person poster of a young woman who disappeared in Morelos in 2014.
The monument’s intentionally unfinished appearance symbolizes the void left by disappearances, while a heart inside represents resistance and love. Unlike traditional colorful Mexican cartonería art, the sculpture features subdued tones reflecting the somber subject matter.
According to recent figures, between 125,000 and 128,000 people are currently missing in Mexico, with numbers increasing by 7.3% in 2023 and 6.3% in 2024.
The unveiling coincided with significant developments in Mexico, where collectives representing families of missing persons recently reached a historic agreement with the government on reforms to the General Law on Disappearances. The government has agreed to incorporate 29 key proposals from families, including strengthening forensic capabilities and victim assistance protocols.
These reforms are scheduled for Senate review soon, potentially marking a significant step forward in addressing Mexico’s missing persons crisis under President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration.
For more information, read the full article on Mexico News Daily.
- About the Author
- More info
Leave a Reply