The company Cerrajerías Calvo SL, specializing in the restoration of locksmithing and metal carpentry, will be responsible for carrying out the tasks. This action represents a definitive step towards the recovery, dignification, and enhancement of the memorial, erected a decade ago in memory of the victims of the tragic event.
The Delegate for Cultural Action, Heritage, and Cultural Resources, José Luis Moreno, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “From our municipal government, we are moving forward, true to our word, with a much-needed action whose sole objective is to restore the monument to its original state, reverse the damage it currently presents, and keep alive the memory of the people who unfortunately lost their lives that day.” Moreno recalled the commitment made last year to the platform that brings together the victims, coinciding with the upcoming July 3rd, the date marking the twentieth anniversary of the fatal accident.
The monument, titled ‘Prime Time’ and created by German artist Anja Krakowski, was the result of an art competition organized in 2014 by the Association of Victims of the Metro of July 3rd (AVM3J). The proposal won the majority vote of the jury, composed of figures such as Manuel Borja-Villel and Vicente Todolí, and over 1,100 citizens.
Funded through crowdfunding and popular subscription, the memorial consists of four laminated glass partitions on concrete bases, with 43 white clocks (one for each victim) and seven black clocks indicating the time of the incident (1:03 PM). Donated to the City Council in 2016, it is located in a garden area at the intersection of Sant Vicent Màrtir street and Mestre i Roís de Corella street.
The restoration works have been agreed upon with the artist and the AVM3J. It has been found that 21 of the 43 white clock faces are rotated due to metro vibrations and lack of fixation. They will be replaced with new ones, repositioned and secured to prevent future displacement. Clocks showing condensation and oxidation due to poor sealing will also be repaired.
The seven black clock faces, deteriorated by ultraviolet radiation, will be replaced with more durable thermal screen-printed units. At the request of the association and the artist, they will be identical to the white ones but in negative, with a black background and white graphics, and without hands. Finally, six methacrylate discs will be removed and the sculpture will be manually cleaned.
