Memorial de Víctimas de la Violencia del Estado

The Memorial to Victims of Violence in Mexico (Spanish: Memorial a las víctimas de violencia en México), also referred to as the State Violence Victims Memorial (Spanish: Memorial de las víctimas de la violencia del Estado), is a memorial in Chapultepec, Mexico City. Its construction started in 2012 during the presidency of Felipe Calderón and it was opened to public on 5 April 2013, during Enrique Peña Nieto's administration. As its name suggests, it was created to pay tribute to those who have been victims of violence in the nation. The memorial consists of 70 steel walls with varying textures, formerly illuminated by numerous reflectors that projected light from different angles – some originally installed underwater. The architectural design was led by Julio Gaeta and Luby Springall through their firm, Gaeta Springall Arquitectos, while lighting was handled by the company Lighteam. The creators described their work as an incomplete and unfinished project, intended for citizens to add the names of victims. Approximately 40 quotes from historical figures on violence and memory are also inscribed on the walls. The project was well-received by architecture and art publications, and it won the Best Use of Color Award at the 2014 AL Light & Architecture Design Awards. However, it received polarized comments from human rights groups and society due to two factors. The first was the involvement of Calderón in the project as he started the Mexican drug war in 2006.