Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares inaugurated an exhibition titled “Half the World: Women in Indigenous Mexico” at the Cervantes Institute in Madrid, featuring over 400 works on loan from the Mexican government. At the press conference, Albares acknowledged that Spain's colonization of Mexico caused “pain and injustice” toward indigenous peoples, but stopped short of issuing a full apology. This follows a 2019 letter from former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador demanding an apology from Spain and the Catholic Church for the conquest, which Spain rejected. Current Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has reiterated the demand, calling the original letter “very diplomatic” and criticizing Spain's response as “undiplomatic.”
The exhibition and the diplomatic statements surrounding it highlight ongoing tensions between Spain and Mexico over the legacy of colonialism. While the show aims to honor indigenous women and foster cultural recognition, the refusal to apologize underscores unresolved historical grievances that continue to strain bilateral relations. The event demonstrates how art and cultural diplomacy are being used as platforms for political dialogue and memory, with both governments signaling a commitment to mutual recognition even as deeper reconciliation remains elusive.