“For me, a circus is a magical spectacle that passes by like a world event […].” A quote from Marc Chagall.
In addition to the exhibition “Portraits of Artists” in the art room, the Wilhelm Fabry Museum is showing the presentation “Circus Pictures” by Michael Dannenmann, who is one of the internationally renowned German representatives of contemporary portrait photography, in the barrel room. As with the “Portraits of Artists,” he is interested in the theme of disguise, masquerade, and slipping into another role. For the portrait series, Dannenmann brought the circus actors out of the ring in front of the camera, creating an authentic atmosphere full of quiet intimacy. His project began in 1986 with black and white photographs in which he captured the individual actors in costume against a neutral background and, as a juxtaposition, without make-up and casually in private clothing. In 2016 and 2017 he again accompanied people from different nations in the circus and presented them, some of them with make-up and in costume, in front of historical floats. The unstable life on the road is illustrated by the circus family's caravan. For example, the photographer shows the magical singer Marlitt Pallavicini in her evening wear next to the red curtain of her mobile circus kingdom. Dannenmann portrays the artist Mark Pieklo, who was trained at the National Circus School in Canada and who developed a completely new genre of acrobatics with “Porteur Parallele”. Leaning casually against the car, he looks confidently into the camera. His right hand rests on the strut of the shutter above. A hand on which life literally hangs in the ring.
Of course, the clown is a must at the circus. It is Bertran Fulgenci Mestres alias Gensi, the audience favorite at Roncalli, who is known on stage as the authoritarian clown and thus represents the adult world. Dannenmann portrays him twice. “Without a net and a false bottom,” Dannenmann is able to play with the illusion of the circus world in his pictures and thereby bring us closer to people who perform a magical spectacle for us.
Opening:
March 24, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. in the Gewerbepark-Süd art space
Framework program:
Sunday, June 2, 2024, 14 p.m. - 17 p.m., circus day
In addition to the exhibition “Portraits of Artists” in the art room, the Wilhelm Fabry Museum is showing the presentation “Circus Pictures” by Michael Dannenmann, who is one of the internationally renowned German representatives of contemporary portrait photography, in the barrel room. As with the “Portraits of Artists,” he is interested in the theme of disguise, masquerade, and slipping into another role. For the portrait series, Dannenmann brought the circus actors out of the ring in front of the camera, creating an authentic atmosphere full of quiet intimacy. His project began in 1986 with black and white photographs in which he captured the individual actors in costume against a neutral background and, as a juxtaposition, without make-up and casually in private clothing. In 2016 and 2017 he again accompanied people from different nations in the circus and presented them, some of them with make-up and in costume, in front of historical floats. The unstable life on the road is illustrated by the circus family's caravan. For example, the photographer shows the magical singer Marlitt Pallavicini in her evening wear next to the red curtain of her mobile circus kingdom. Dannenmann portrays the artist Mark Pieklo, who was trained at the National Circus School in Canada and who developed a completely new genre of acrobatics with “Porteur Parallele”. Leaning casually against the car, he looks confidently into the camera. His right hand rests on the strut of the shutter above. A hand on which life literally hangs in the ring.
Of course, the clown is a must at the circus. It is Bertran Fulgenci Mestres alias Gensi, the audience favorite at Roncalli, who is known on stage as the authoritarian clown and thus represents the adult world. Dannenmann portrays him twice. “Without a net and a false bottom,” Dannenmann is able to play with the illusion of the circus world in his pictures and thereby bring us closer to people who perform a magical spectacle for us.
Opening:
March 24, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. in the Gewerbepark-Süd art space
Framework program:
Sunday, June 2, 2024, 14 p.m. - 17 p.m., circus day
Good to know
foreign languages
German
Price information
Price adult: 3€
Reduced price: €1,50
author
Office for Culture and Tourism
Organization
Mettmann district
Appointment overview
Sunday, May 28.04.2024th, XNUMX
11: 00 - 17: 00
Tuesday, the 30.04.2024
15: 00 - 17: 00
Wednesday, the 01.05.2024
15: 00 - 17: 00
