Memory and (Spatial) Justice in Spain

Abstract

The mass graves of the War and Dictatorship (1936-1977) represent one of the most problematic legacies of the twentieth century, yet they are almost entirely absent from public space. This article seeks to recognise how diverse strategies have been developed since the 1970s to the mass graves to urban centres. It shows partial results of a broader research on the memorial initiatives developed on mass graves from the post-war period to the present day, between art history and ethnography. Firstly, the text presents the exclusionary dimension of mass graves and the ostracism to which they are condemned in relation to urban space. Secondly, it is explained how the search for justice through memorial actions relates to spatial justice. In the third point, initiatives to connect the mass graves to other points in the urban space are illustrated. It concludes by explaining that spatiality is implicit in the demands of the “Historical Memory” movements.