The museum afterlife of iconoclasm: Lenin monument(s) and cultural memory in Latvia

This article examines the cultural imprints of the V.I. Lenin monument in Riga and its removal. Focusing on the exhibitions at, and outputs of, the major history museums in Latvia, my discussion highlights how the memory of the monument is sustained through the moment of its removal. In effect, this article argues that museums contribute to what can primarily be understood as a threshold memory with two key functions – mnemonic boundary-making and a framing event. The monument becomes an integral part in the visual narrative of Latvia’s recent history and is intertwined with memories of regime change.