We congratulate Teresa Margolles (b. 1963, in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico) for her installation „Mil Veces un Instante“ („A Thousand Times in an Instant“) on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth inaugurated today.
The artwork features 726 life masks of transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming individuals—363 from Mexico and 363 from London. Cast in plaster, the masks, displayed inside-out in a cube, contain traces of the participants, such as makeup and facial features, and will gradually decompose over two years. This process symbolizes the transformation and visibility of these often-marginalized lives.
Margolles’ project draws inspiration from the Mesoamerican tzompantli, a rack used to display the skulls of sacrifices. It is a departure from her usual work with death and violence—often utilizing bodily fluids from corpses—but remains a tribute to victims of societal neglect. The installation memorializes Karla La Borrada, a murdered trans singer, and speaks to the broader trans community’s vulnerability, particularly in violent regions like Ciudad Juárez.
Margolles has worked extensively in Mexico City, often focusing on the aftermath of violence and death. This project reflects her deep empathy for marginalized groups, with each face cast telling a personal story, drawing attention to lives often ignored or silenced.
