MEXICO CITY.- A fascinating exploration of urban development, social change, and historical memory is now on display at the Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco (CCUT) with the exhibition, “Memories of the Present: Sixty Years of the Urban Modernity Project in Tlatelolco, 1964-2024.” This timely exhibition, which opened on November 21st, 2024—marking the 60th anniversary of the complex's inauguration—invites visitors to delve into the complex story of Tlatelolco.


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The exhibition focuses on the construction and legacy of the Presidente Adolfo López Mateos Urban Complex of Nonoalco Tlatelolco, a project conceived by renowned Mexican architect Mario Pani. Inaugurated in 1964, the multi-family housing complex was intended to be a symbol of urban modernity during the "Mexican Miracle" of the 1950s and 60s, a period of rapid industrialization, economic growth, and demographic expansion, set against the backdrop of the Cold War and burgeoning social and student movements.

“Memories of the Present” offers a multi-layered perspective on Tlatelolco's history through a rich collection of materials: contemporary artworks, historical photographs, documents, and archival materials sourced from the CCUT and collaborating institutions, including the ICA Foundation and the General Directorate of the Diplomatic Historical Archive of the SRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Visitors are encouraged to reflect on the inherent contradictions of this ambitious modernization project. While Tlatelolco aimed to provide a new model for urban housing and planning in Mexico City, it also brought significant shifts in daily life and the urban fabric.

Key themes explored in the exhibition include:

• 1964 Inauguration and Beyond: The exhibition commemorates the 1964 inauguration of the Tlatelolco housing complex and the subsequent construction of the Foreign Relations Tower in 1966, designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez. This tower played a significant role on the world stage, hosting the signing of the “Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean” in 1967 and the First International Women's Conference within the Generation Equality Forum in 1975.

• Architecture and Industrial Design: The exhibition examines the intersection of architecture and industrial design, highlighting the collaboration between Mario Pani and Cuban designer Clara Porset, who created custom furniture for the Tlatelolco apartments.

• A Living History: The exhibition traces Tlatelolco's evolution, from its pre-Hispanic and colonial roots to its transformation into a modern architectural landmark, and addresses its resilience after the devastating 1985 earthquake.

• Contemporary Perspectives: Contemporary artworks by artists like Edgar Orlaineta, Tania Candiani, and Pedro Reyes offer critical and historical reflections on the ideals of modernity in the late 20th century, prompting viewers to reconsider Tlatelolco's ongoing legacy.

“Memories of the Present” is a collaborative undertaking, with contributions from the General Directorate of the Diplomatic Historical Archive of the SRE, the ICA Foundation, Ramírez Vázquez y Asociados, the Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros, the Tamayo Museum, the Faculty of Architecture of the UNAM, the Clara Porset Dumas Archive of the Industrial Design Research Center of the Faculty of Architecture of the UNAM, and the CCUT, which has drawn upon its own rich resources, including the Mario Pani Photographic Fund, the Political Cartoon Fund, the Molina Collection, and the University Art Fund of the Original Peoples. The exhibition is currently on view at the CCUT.



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