We are the Retroguardia.
A convergence of what we have been, what we are, and what we will be. We inhabit time as a space for experimentation and reflection. Art demands a process, and that process requires time to grow and transform. We do not fight, we do not compete. We develop like a living organism—one that evolves, regenerates, and constantly transforms.
For us, art is not only the final result, but above all the path that leads to it. We celebrate the creative process, made of experiments, attempts, failures, and discoveries. It is the journey that gives value to the work. Every step, every mistake, every intuition is part of creation. We are explorers of the possible: we celebrate pause, care, and dialogue. The artist is not only a creator of concepts, but also an inventor, a craftsperson who lives the deep connection between mind, body, and spirit with matter and with their work.
We believe in art as a process in constant becoming—never finished, always open to new interpretations and transformations. Creativity is born from the interaction of different voices. In the Retroguardia, we support one another, convinced that true strength resides in community.
Art is not only a product, but an experience, a journey, a very serious game, and also a form of work. For us, it is essential to give value to artistic processes, from the first gesture to the continuous transformation of the work, because art lives, evolves, and grows together with those who create it. Together, we will rediscover the value of making, of relationships, of time, and of dialogue.
The artist is present—be present. Do the work, get your hands dirty. Immerse yourself in the process and embrace failure. The Retroguardia is now: a space to experiment, create, and transform collectively. Art lives in every creative gesture.
Authorship Note
The concept, the term, and the theoretical elaboration of the Retroguardia are part of the artistic research and intellectual production of McManu Espinosa.
During the development of the manifesto, Lalula Vivenzi contributed with some insights and observations that emerged through dialogue, without intervening in the genesis of the concept nor in its theoretical structure.
The Retroguardia thus originates from a clearly defined authorship and subsequently opens itself to a dialogical and collective dimension.
