Recycling guns, Making Art. A message of peace?

Sometime ago, I saw these sculptures displayed at the Mars Military camp in Mexico City (Campo Militar Marte) next to Reforma Ave., one of the most popular avenues where you can find lots of museums and big buildings.

I was interested to see this open exhibition because at first look they are incredible sculptures made of metal but when you get closer you can see they are made of guns. So I thought "wow, this is amazing as art, great idea". Then I asked one of the soldiers who was mounting one of the sculptures what was it all about. He told me these were guns confiscated from the Drug cartels and soldiers wanted to create something positive about it.

I should have talked to him more but instead decided to admire each piece of art. As I was looking at them I thought again "amazing idea!, I didn't know soldiers could do this".

Now I think more about it and I wonder how peaceful can this message really be? Of course, converting weapons into something creative is definitely interesting and worth to do. However, the army is not very well accepted among citizens exactly because they usually represent the opposite message, which is conflict and war.

I think making art from something that represents trouble or a clash like in this case, will not necessarily be taken by society as "lets make love and not war". These sculptures were made by a government institution and therefore many people would be against it. There is also the other side, how true is that a public institution that has to keep the country in peace, doesn´t really act like that in many daily situations, contradicting and devaluing the message of the art produced.

What are your thoughts on this discussion, do you think we can forget about the meaning and just focus on the aesthetic quality? or should meaning always exist? I think both things have value and of course the message depends also on each person.

I hope somehow many people will think this can really be a peaceful intention doesn´t matter who made the sculptures. Or am I being very naive?

All photos taken by @lagom

Thanks for reading and upvoting!!