Censorship and Destruction of Artworks in Dictatorships (1964 to 1980)

Abstract

This article presents the findings of an investigation into the politically motivated damage inflicted upon Bolivia›s artistic heritage during several dictatorial decades (1964–1980). It incorporates the perspectives of Bolivian artists who lived through the periods of dictatorship and of surviving artists whose works were targeted. The qualitative research focuses on four case studies of affected artworks: first, works by Diego Morales; second, murals by Miguel Alandia Pantoja; third, a mural by Jorge Mendoza and Wálter Solón Romero; and finally, two murals by Luis Zilveti. The study identifies varying degrees of damage across the cases, ranging from the destruction of artworks to their confiscation and theft, and from the imprisonment of artists to exile.