Thousands of kilometers away from Egypt, the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola might not be the first place to come to mind when thinking about obelisks. Nevertheless, the Dominican capital boasts its own doppelgänger of these millennia-old monuments. Though much like its ancient counterparts, the Obelisk of Santo Domingo was built to exalt a tyrant, in recent decades, it has been rebranded as a hallmark of liberty and resilience.
By: Omri Westmark
Date: 16:14 12.08.24
Last Update: 21:02 12.08.24
In the heart of Santo Domingo, at a busy roundabout connecting George Washington Avenue with Vicini Burgos and Billini streets, stands a towering monument that has seen the Dominican Republic’s tumultuous history unfold. Known as Obelisco Macho, this 40-meter-tall obelisk regularly greets motorists and passersby on the city’s iconic seafront esplanade, most of whom are oblivious to its century-long metamorphosis.
Designed in 1936 by Alfredo González Sánchez and Rafael García Bonnelly, and officially inaugurated on January 11, 1937, the obelisk was erected to commemorate the rechristening of Santo Domingo to Ciudad Trujillo, a move ordered by the then country’s infamous dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo.
As a stark reminder of Trujillo’s oppressive rule, the bulky structure could be admired from nearly every point along the seaside avenue. Following the assassination of Trujillo in 1961, most of the statues and monuments associated with his autocratic regime were torn down as part of the nation’s long healing process.
Somewhat inadvertently, the white monolith managed to dodge the same fate, and has since evolved from a misbegotten landmark glorifying authoritarianism to a symbol of freedom and resistance.
In the mid-1990s, as the Dominican Republic continued to reckon with its past, the ivory-hued obelisk underwent a thorough transformation. It was first turned into a giant Christmas tree, a temporary yet symbolic decision to move beyond the shadows of its dark history. Shortly after, its four triangular walls became a canvas for muralists, who in turn converted the white monument into an ever-changing work of art.
Among the most notable of these transient murals were the images of the Mirabal sisters—Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa – whose brutal assassination in 1960 by Trujillo’s henchmen galvanized the anti-dictatorship movement. Painted by artist Amaya Salazar, the mural, titled “The Butterflies”, paid tribute to the three siblings whose bravery became a source of inspiration for millions across this island-nation.
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
photography by: Omri Westmark
