Clay masks to remember the kidnapped students of Ayotzinapa

By Iacopo Luzi

The Latino Cultural Center at the University of Illinois Chicago held an art workshop to remember the 43 Mexican students who disappeared in Iguala, Guerrero on September 26, 2014.

After 2 and a half years, the students are still missing. It’s not clear if they were kidnapped and killed by a Mexican criminal gang, on their way to Iguala for a demonstration. According to news reports, the local police and some politicians, including Iguala Mayor José Luis Abaca Velázquez and his wife, were involved in the kidnapping of the students.

The investigation continues and the 43 students of Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College, are still missing.

During the workshop, 43 clay masks were made, using the faces of people who attended the event. Another 43 clays masks representing the missing students were produced by Mexican artist Alfonso Piloto Nieves Ruiz. All the masks will be on display at an exhibit at UIC in September.

The clay masks representing two of the Mexican students who disappeared in Iguala in September 2014 (Iacopo Luzi/MEDILL)