"I received an invitation to participate in a project titled “De 12 a 12” (From 12 to 12), to be held at the Camilo Egas Museum in Quito. It consisted of a series of performances presented over the course of a 12-hour day. Performance artists from across Ecuador were invited. The project aimed to gather—both in a single location and in a catalog—a snapshot of the state of performance art in the country at that time.

"I was initially unsure whether to participate. Doing so meant entering the sphere of the museum institution, which contradicted my own stance on non-institutional performance art.

"Ultimately, I decided to accept the invitation, but my anti-institutional stance compelled me to propose an action that subverted the project's premise. I proposed a performative action (not necessarily a formal "performance piece") centered on the delivery of a speech. The content of this speech contradicted the Camilo Egas Museum’s proposal, highlighting characteristic elements of how museum institutions—and all those involved with them—operate (specifically, the entanglements between the museum, the State, and the prevailing ideology). The speech was accompanied by a pamphlet containing specific text and phrases designed to question the audience's position regarding the event.

"The attire I wore (military clothing and a balaclava) was clearly intended to convey rejection, rebellion, and belligerence. It also served as a critique of the government at the time, which was linked to the Colombian terrorist group FARC."

Performers: Damián Toro, David Toro
Filming: Arturo
Photography: Raquel Acevedo