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11/1/2006

The art of risk

Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona CCCB, Barcelona

Contemporary Catalan circus

The art of risk. Contemporary Catalan circus takes a look at the artists and shows that, in the last 30 years, have contributed to making the new Catalan circus a rich creative phenomenon. The exhibition begins with spirit of renewal that the performing arts underwent in Catalonia at the end of Franco’s dictatorship and continues up to the present day of circus artists—plus other avant-garde theatrical languages—now working in Catalonia with that same innovative spirit.

The end of Franco’s dictatorship encouraged citizens back out into the streets. Many of these citizens were actors, puppeteers, musicians and acrobats who were also the protagonists of a creative revolution in the performing arts. At that time, all over the world the circus was undergoing a period of decline and starting to look for new aesthetic approaches, a search in which Catalonia was, in time, a pioneer. In 1976, La Tragica company premiered the show Tripijoc Joc Trip, with a broad-based circus spirit, and, shortly afterwards, Jaume Mateu and Claret Papiol created the Germans Poltrona clown duo. Then Jaume Mateu, ‘Tortell Poltrona’, led the Circ Cric, an initiative that brought together the cream of the country’s young artists and received popular recognition and the vigorous support of intellectuals, artists, poets and critics such as Joan Miro', Joan Brossa, Josep-VicenA- Foix and Xavier Fabregas.

In the 20 years that have passed since then, Catalan creators have opted for a concept of circus in which the traditional disciplines (clowns, acrobats, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, balancing acts, etc.) exist alongside others from many different fields, not all of which are performing arts. In a process of mutual enrichment, the contemporary circus both infiltrates and is infiltrated by other artistic forms. Today in Catalonia, a whole host of solo artists and companies represent the best tradition of the circus and are moving it forwards towards a new aesthetic of risk: the risk involved in becoming established at a crossroads of languages where the circus has a lot to say and a great deal to contribute.

The exhibition is made up of six sections that look at the history of the contemporary Catalan circus, some of the high-risk performing arts that have been most active in the renewal process and conceptual hypotheses about the leading figures in this story and their aesthetic research. The sections are: 1) Social rebellion, festival and on-stage risk. 2) Another kind of circus is born. 3) The roots of renewal. 4) The scene of risk. 5) The poetics of risk: contemporary circus. 6) Symbiosis: circus and the scene of risk.

The exhibition is a production of the KRTU (Department of Culture of the Generalitat). Its curators are Jordi Jane' circus critic, and Joan Maria Minguet, lecturer in the Art Department of the UAB. The exhibition design is by Max Llamazares and Ivan Pomes. The poster is the work of David Torrents. The exhibition will run at the CCCB from 12 January to 5 March 2006, before travelling to various venues.

To accompany the exhibition a catalogue of the same name has been produced. The art of risk. Contemporary Catalan circus brings together images (photographs, posters, programmes, objects, etc.) that represent the history of the contemporary circus and high-risk performing arts in Catalonia. The book, jointly produced by Editorial Triangle and the KRTU (Department of Culture of the Generalitat), is designed by David Torrents and includes texts by both the exhibition curators and national and international experts, including the leading lights of the last 30 years on the Catalan scene: Tortell Poltrona, Santiago Sans, Jan-Rock Achard, Antoni Bartomeus, Manel Trias, Carles Santos, Piti Espanol, Gigi Cristoforetti, Joan Font, Marta Carrasco and Fura.

Parallel activities
To coincide with the exhibition, a seminar will be held on 14, 15 and 16 February 2006 at the CCCB, entitled The circus and the poetics of risk. It will deal with the circus phenomenon in aesthetic terms, the possible definition of the concept of contemporary or new circus, the relation of the circus with other arts and the functioning of various circus companies and schools around the world. Taking part will be both writers and university lecturers, and circus professionals: clowns, trapeze artists, directors of circus schools, and so on.

Sunday circus workshops: Take a risk! Circus workshop at the CCCB, for children between the ages of 6 and 12, facilitated by monitors from the Rogelio Rivel Circus School. Every Sunday, from 22 January to 5 March, at 11.30 a.m., the boys and girls will have the chance to try out some of the techniques they will have seen in the exhibition, such as juggling with diabolos and balancing acts. Duration: 90 minutes plus a 30-minute display by the monitors: juggling, acrobatics, diabolos, clowning...
Registration: CCCB, on 93 306 41 00
Activity limited to a group of 25 children per session
Price of the Sunday workshop: 2 euros

Guided visits in Catalan: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: at 6 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: at 11.30 a.m.

Guided visits in Spanish: Thursdays: at 6 p.m.; Saturdays: at 11.30 a.m.

Group visits: prior arrangement by calling: 93 306 41 35 (Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) or by e-mail: seducatiu@cccb.org

Organised by: KRTU - Department of Culture, Generalitat de Catalunya
With the collaboration of: CCCB and the Associacion Professional del Circ de Catalunya
With the special support of Cinemes Verdi
Catalogue: co-produced by KRTU Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya and Editorial Triangle. 320 pages in b/w and colour. Catalan-English and Spanish-English.

Opening: January 12

CCCB
Calle Montalegre 5 - Barcelona
Hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m; Wednesdays and Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays and public holidays: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Closed on Mondays except public holidays

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