Guernica //

Year 4 // Professor George Dodds.

Prompt // Remembrance.

Site // Guernica, Spain - Site of Nazi carpet bombing test runs

GUERNICA

Guernica is a small town situated on Spain’s northern coast, near the French border. During the Spanish Civil War, Francisco Franco, the fascist leader of Spain, had a close alliance with Adolf Hitler. Encouraged by Franco, Hitler used Guernica to test his new carpet bombing techniques, as the town was a stronghold of resistance against Franco’s forces. The attack, which occurred in 1937, claimed the lives of approximately 1,600 people, though the true death toll is likely much higher.

This project aims to serve as both a memorial to the tragedy and a symbol of hope for the future. The centerpiece of the memorial is a mirrored box placed high above the town, housing Picasso’s iconic Guernica painting. The installation draws the gaze of both residents and visitors upward, representing the city’s resilience and growth in the aftermath of its painful history. In addition to relocating Guernica to its namesake city, a recreation of the 1937 Spanish Pavilion will be positioned at the base of the hill, serving as a symbolic gateway to the memorial.