With the publication of its 19th issue, INDEX, the journal of contemporary art and visual culture, celebrates a decade of existence, a period in which it has become a vital platform for critical and artistic reflection in Ecuador and Latin America. This anniversary represents not only a celebration but also an opportunity to revisit the journey traveled and reaffirm our commitment to art as a space for dialogue, questioning, and social transformation.

This issue opens with an enriching dialogue featuring Ai Weiwei, a prominent figure in global contemporary art. The interview addresses media saturation and creative freedom within restrictive contexts, challenging conventional notions about the role of artists in our interconnected society, dominated by information flows.

In the Dossier section, the focus deepens on sound art as a tool for resistance and social exploration in Ecuador and Latin America. Articles such as Pablo Valencia's examine sonic interventions in public spaces in Guayaquil, questioning urban exclusion dynamics through sound experimentation. Edison Miguez provides a critical view of noise as a disruptive form, while Marco Giusto and Lio Flores explore how sonic practices can reshape the perception of surroundings and generate poetic, alternative experiences.

Additionally, the dossier includes perspectives on memory and identity within urban contexts through sound, presenting research such as the project conducted with elderly residents in La Loma Grande, Quito. Patricio Dalgo concludes this section with an exploration of the "accidental howl," highlighting how technological and artistic practices can produce new forms of knowledge.

The Art Themes section presents various critical reflections on the intersections between art, society, and politics. Pérez Pezoa reflects on profane scenes in relation to the sacred; Nebraska Flores discusses emotional atmospheres in art installations, while Freire Smith analyzes feminist activism in Chile, using the body as a political vehicle. Francesca Fruci explores poetics of contemplation in contemporary art, and Cristina Santamaría presents a study on new materialities and tentacular thinking in artistic ecosystems.

This issue also dedicates space to curatorial and educational approaches, with texts by Leobardo Ceja on museographic representations among art and design students, and Pedro Cagigal, who investigates techno-spiritual futures in artistic practices.

Finally, Jorge Espinosa presents his piece "Conversation" in the Visual Essay section, a sound installation that questions the nature of dialogue and human interaction in contexts mediated by sound.

Over these ten years, INDEX has positioned itself as an essential point of reference, maintaining its mission to drive critical discussion and strengthen the diversity of voices within contemporary artistic discourse. This 19th issue celebrates that trajectory and opens new horizons to continue exploring the richness and complexity of contemporary art.