Lugar de la Memoria,la Tolerancia y la Inclusión Social (LUM): Exhibiting political violence in Peru

Abstract

The creation of the Lugar de la Memoria (LUM), dedicated to documenting the Peruvian internal armed conflict (1980–2000), is the result of complex negotiations among various political and social actors. The LUM not only serves as a symbolic gesture of recognition and reparation from the State but also represents the materialization of a longstanding demand from families and survivors. Considering the historical and political context, this article examines how human rights violations are presented in the exhibition, exploring how individual memories of the victims are incorporated into a collective narrative. Additionally, the paper reflects on the museum’s design and how its architecture and layout contribute (or not) to the understanding of the complex issues surrounding memory politics. The study raises key questions about the effectiveness of the LUM as a space for the reparation of past injustices, as well as the challenges of representing political violence within such an emotionally charged and historically disputed context. Through this analysis, the article seeks to explore how a memory museum can help bridge the gap between the past and the present, fostering critical reflection on Peru’s recent history.