Photo by Nick Charlesworth, courtesy of the GAM.
During September in Chile, there is a key element present in our culture, which is also a part of our national heritage. We´re talking about the Circus, a traveling show that is colorful, full of rituals and work, which begins to appear each September throughout our country.
Generally, the circus has been regarded as a kind of lower-level entertainment, a show for the poor; however, with companies such as Cirque du Soleil —as well as a "cultural rescue" movement that´s been happening in Chile for the past ten years— this image is being restored with those most prejudice, rescuing and positioning this old tradition back into good standing.
The Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center (GAM) also knows this, therefore will be showing a photography exhibition related to the "New Circus," until 25 September. This new circus is something like a circus movement emerging from traditional circus to a more sophisticated, theatrical performance, without animals. This is the case for the "Circo del Mundo - Chile," (World Circus - Chile) organized and collaborated on by Cirque du Soleil, utilizing the art of circus as an educational tool and a social intervention.
As stated by the GAM, the considered "traditional" circus is anchored within the Republic´s national culture since the beginning, and the so-called "new circus," is rescuing its history and developing its artistic potential. The idea is based on two premises: Promoting access to and driving productive activity, and, spreading circus art throughout the community; going right along with the exhibit´s main objectives, which is curated by photographer and editor Robert Edwards.
The exhibition is unprecedented in Chile, and has more than 200 photographs, works by Francisco Bermejo, Maya Estrada and Enrique Siqués, and Englishman Nick Charlesworth, all corresponding to different times and formats, addressing the live shows as the workers´ intimate lives and its relation to the community.
O hail to the circus!
Detail:
GAM Cultural Center
Visual Arts Room (building B, level 1)
227 Alameda, Santiago.
Universidad Católica Metro Station
Hours: Tuesdsay - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Entrance is free
