In the heart of London’s bustling Trafalgar Square, a monumental work of art now stands as a tribute to the transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming communities. On September 18, 2024, Mexican artist Teresa Margolles unveiled her powerful sculpture, Mil Veces un Instante (A Thousand Times in an Instant), marking the 15th contemporary installation on the iconic Fourth Plinth. With 726 plaster face casts of trans individuals, the artwork serves as a living monument to the ongoing struggle for transgender rights and visibility.
Margolles’ creation is more than a sculpture; it is a statement—a 3.3-metric-ton (3.6 US ton) cube that bears the faces of 726 transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people from around the world. Over the next 18 months, the elements of London’s weather will wear down these faces, symbolizing the erasure that transgender people often face in society. But unlike the forces that have tried to silence this community, this artwork refuses to go quietly.
A Monument to Trans Lives and Stories
The Fourth Plinth, a large stone pedestal situated in one of Europe’s busiest squares, has housed various modern art installations since 1999. But Mil Veces un Instante is more than just the latest addition; it’s a poignant reflection of the lives and stories of transgender individuals, many of whom have faced immense hardship, discrimination, and violence.
For Margolles, this project carries deep personal significance. The inspiration for this piece came from Karla, a close friend and transgender woman murdered in 2015 in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Karla experienced systemic indifference, a lack of access to fundamental rights, and unchecked violence, like many trans people in Latin America. “She was the one who introduced me to dialogue with the community,” said Margolles, who is 61. “This sculpture is an attempt to give visibility to the transgender people who suffer in silence. It is a tribute to Karla, and to all those who have been forgotten.”
The faces that adorn this sculpture are not just faces—they are lives, stories, memories, and struggles. Terry Holiday, co-founder of Archivo de la Memoria Trans Mexico and a member of the trans community, made the journey to London for the unveiling. Holiday’s face is among the 726 casts, a powerful reminder of the real people behind the art. “For us, this visibility given to the situation of indifference and helplessness that trans women go through in Mexico and Latin America is very important,” Holiday said. “We are people, we are all human beings, and we deserve the same treatment.”
Margolles hopes that her work will shine a light on the grim realities faced by transgender people, particularly in Latin America, where job opportunities, healthcare, and safety are often out of reach. “Let it be known that there are no job opportunities and no healthcare for trans people in Latin America. And above all, hate crimes. People migrate because of hate crimes,” Margolles told AFP during the unveiling. “They try to get to the United States thinking that they will at least have a life.”
A Time for Trans Visibility
For London’s transgender community, Mil Veces un Instante represents not only the pain and suffering endured but also a sense of triumph and belonging. Stephanie Lynnette, an event manager for London Trans+ Pride, expressed the emotional impact the sculpture had on her. “It feels like it’s cemented myself in terms of a trans person in London and a trans person with a voice who feels so often that they are not platformed within the conversation,” Lynnette said. “To be in such a prevalent place, to be in the center of one of Europe’s greatest cities is just—it’s emotional and it’s very moving, and it feels right. It feels like the right time for trans people to be platformed in this way.”
The timing of the sculpture’s unveiling comes at a crucial moment for transgender rights and visibility. With trans issues taking center stage in global conversations about human rights, healthcare, and anti-discrimination laws, this artwork offers a physical manifestation of the challenges and perseverance of the trans community. Margolles’ decision to place the sculpture in such a public and prominent space is a powerful assertion that transgender people cannot—and will not—be ignored.
Weathered by Time, But Not Forgotten
Over the next 18 months, Mil Veces un Instante will change. The wind and rain in London will gradually wear away the sculpture’s faces. As the elements erode the plaster, the artwork will stand as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life, particularly the lives of transgender individuals, who are often rendered invisible by society. The gradual disintegration of the faces mirrors the ways in which trans people are erased from public consciousness, but also highlights the resilience of their presence, etched in stone for the world to see.
This transformation was intentional. Margolles, who trained as a forensic pathologist and once worked in a morgue, has a history of creating art that confronts death and conflict. She has used blood and materials from crime scenes in her work, exploring the delicate relationship between life, death, and memory. In this way, Mil Veces un Instante serves as both a monument and an anti-monument—a tribute to those who have been silenced but refuse to be forgotten.
An Urgent Call for Change
Beyond its aesthetic beauty and emotional weight, Mil Veces un Instante is also a call to action. Margolles’ work draws attention to the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by trans people around the world. From hate crimes in Latin America to the daily struggles of trans individuals trying to navigate healthcare, employment, and social acceptance, this sculpture amplifies the voices of a community that has been marginalized for far too long.
For Terry Holiday and others whose faces are immortalized in plaster, this sculpture is a chance to share their stories with the world. “We’ve been quiet for a long time. Now I think that it is the time that the people must hear us, and hear about the stories, not of us, but of the girls that came before us and tried to leave a message for the people that are coming,” Holiday said.
The Bottom Line
Art has always played a vital role in activism, and Mil Veces un Instante is no exception. By placing transgender lives at the forefront of public consciousness in one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, Margolles’ sculpture ensures that the struggle for transgender rights is visible, tangible, and impossible to ignore.
This artwork challenges not only the art world but also society as a whole to reconsider how we view and treat transgender individuals. It is a reminder that their lives are just as significant and deserving of respect as anyone else’s. The gradual weathering of the sculpture may cause the faces to fade, but the impact of Mil Veces un Instante will continue to resonate long after the faces have disappeared.
As the wind and rain take their toll on the sculpture over the next 18 months, the message remains clear: trans lives matter. They matter today, tomorrow, and forever.
