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The pedestal of the sculpture known as The Woman with the Parasol has been obstructing the pedestrian path on Libertad Street in Holguín for over a month, without any authority taking action to remove it, as reported on social media this Saturday.
"The sculpture has disappeared; the obstacle remains. Since then, the orphaned pedestal has seamlessly integrated into social life with astonishing naturalness. Pedestrians dodge it with the grace of amateur bullfighters; children turn it into an improvised playground; some elderly people watch it with philosophical resignation, as if it were a materialized metaphor of the times we live in," wrote on his Facebook profile the citizen José Poveda Cruz.
He also pointed out that, in the meantime, "the authorities are probably studying the phenomenon with the caution of archaeologists facing an exceptional discovery. There may be meetings, reports, and technical considerations. Perhaps they are waiting for a favorable alignment of the stars, the availability of a truck, or the approval of some document that officially certifies that an obstacle indeed constitutes an obstacle.
The structure collapsed on the night of May 16, after weeks of visible deterioration that had been publicly reported since April 5, without any action from the authorities.
The sculpture, made of reinforced concrete with a finish that simulates a bronze patina and depicting a female figure on a rock with an open umbrella, was moved to the home of the sculptor, identified as Silvio, who was in Mexico at the time of the collapse and provided remote instructions to safely remove the piece.
The pedestal, however, was left abandoned in the middle of the boulevard.
The neglect that preceded the collapse was documented with photographs showing deep cracks, holes in the base, exposed rusty metal rods, and a dangerous forward lean. Authorities ignored these warnings for six weeks until the structure gave way.
The orphaned base has become a daily obstacle for pedestrians, children, and the elderly who walk along the 280-meter boulevard inaugurated in 2005. Public reactions on social media vary between irony and resignation.
A neighbor recalled that the sculpture "has always been in the middle" and that "the umbrella neither cast shadows nor light," while another defended its return: "We cannot abandon bringing the sculpture back to its place. If we do that, and remove the obstruction, the best course of action would be to lift the whole pavement and return that stretch of street to the city."
Beyond the pedestal, the comments highlight a general deterioration of public space. A citizen pointed out that a streetlight on the same boulevard "is literally hanging by a thread" and could lead to "the first fatal victim" in the area.
Another pointed out that the boulevard, where vehicle traffic was previously prohibited and fined, is now regularly traversed by tricycles, scooters, and bicycles.
A citizen recalled a historical precedent, the monument to Tomás Estrada Palma, the first president of the Republic of Cuba, of which only the feet remain on G Avenue in Havana, having stood for years on its pedestal after the statue was toppled in the early 1960s. "I hope the girl with the umbrella returns soon," he wrote, "and I also hope the Republic returns."
The episode reflects a pattern of accelerated heritage abandonment in Holguín. Five sculptures in the Plaza de la Marqueta exhibit severe fractures and are at risk of collapse.
On May 20, the partial collapse of the roof of the Ismaelillo theater was reported. In May, the sword of the statue of the national hero Julio Grave de Peralta was stolen for the third time in the Park of Flowers. Additionally, the former Holguín-Gibara railway station has been documented as a dumping ground for trash and debris.
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