The announcement of the relocation of the monument dedicated to Pancho Villa has generated discontent among the family of the sculptor who directed the work, Francisco Montoya de la Cruz. In an exclusive interview, his 87-year-old son, Francisco Rugo Montoya Burciaga, expressed the family’s disagreement with the proposal to move the sculpture from the city of Durango to the municipality of San Juan del Río, a plan announced by the sculptor Guillermo Salazar.
Montoya Burciaga announced that he will hold a press conference this Friday at the Hotel Casablanca, which he called to publicly state the family’s position and express their disagreement with the government’s decision.
For the sculptor’s son, the monument is not just an urban piece, but an artistic and symbolic legacy deeply linked to the identity of the capital of Durango.
“The Pancho Villa sculpture is a legacy from an artistic point of view. It represents the identity of the people of Durango. Those of us who live here, those who pass through, and those who visit the city have become accustomed to seeing it as part of the urban landscape,” he stated.
According to him, the nationally recognized work is part of the artistic heritage that his father left to the state, both for its sculptural quality and for the history surrounding its creation.
The sculptor’s family maintains that moving it would be a cultural and urban mistake. Therefore, their position is clear: the sculpture should remain in its current location.
“We hope that the sculpture stays where it is, because that is its permanent place and the one that should be preserved,” he affirmed.
Should there be an intention to place another monumental work in that space, Montoya Burciaga considers it an arbitrary decision.
“If they want to create another monumental work, it’s not a question of size or dimensions. It’s a very different situation from how the Francisco Villa sculpture was conceived,” he added.
In addition to its symbolic significance, the interviewee warned that the very integrity of the work could be compromised if it is moved, due to its approximate weight of six tons and the technical complexity involved in its relocation.
“Removing and transporting it is a very delicate task. We can’t understand why they would want to move a nationally recognized sculpture to another location,” he said.
Montoya Burciaga recalled that the piece not only possesses aesthetic value, but also a creative process deeply linked to artistic training in Durango, as it was created at the School of Painting and Sculpture with the participation of students.
“It was crafted with great sacrifice, great effort, and great skill. Many students participated, which is why it’s a sculpture with a history,” he noted.
From his perspective, removing the work from the place where it has stood for years implies breaking a symbolic bond built between the community and the urban space.
“The plan to remove that sculpture is senseless. There’s no basis or reason why that image should be in the way,” he stated.
The interviewee emphasized that the piece has been nationally recognized as a masterpiece, which, in his opinion, should be enough to guarantee its preservation in its current location.
Montoya Burciaga also questioned the stance of those who participated in the casting process and who, he noted, have not expressed any opposition to the relocation.
In particular, he mentioned Guillermo Salazar, who was involved in the sculpture’s casting.
“At the very least, he should offer an explanation and request that the sculpture remain where it is. We get the impression that he supports what the authorities want to do; that’s his attitude,” he commented.
Beyond the urban or artistic debate, the situation has a personal dimension for the sculptor’s family.
“Personally, I feel very disappointed with the authorities’ attitude. It’s heartbreaking because there’s no convincing argument for why the sculpture should be relocated,” he expressed.
He even pointed out that if the argument were its deterioration, the restoration could be done in place.
“If it’s a matter of cleaning or maintenance, that can be done right there; it’s just soap and water. The problem is that it’s been neglected and has never been maintained,” he explained.
The press conference scheduled for this Friday will seek to open the debate about the monument’s fate and the value of the city’s artistic heritage.
Source: elsiglodedurango
