About Me
Dorothy Circus Gallery is a new space in Rome dedicated to "Lowbrow" and "Pop Surrealism", two of the most controversial, vital and exciting movements of contemporary art. The gallery conceived by Alexandra Mazzanti and Jonathan Pannacciò is situated near a classic Roman aqueduct that provides the perfect location for the surreal-chic interior of the exhibition’s space. Black wooden floor and walls frame the white wall, whilst protruding sculptures upon neo-Gothic arches contrast with the ironic pink in the Artshop and the Bookshop’s coloured textures. These aesthetic games provoke and excite the eye, using the same weapons of these inspirational art tendencies.
Dorothy Circus Gallery is a an encounter between classical criteria and the will to experiment, the gateway for those who wants to approach the fascinating artistic current born in late 60’s Los Angeles. The audience will enjoy the work of American and European artists, including Italian authors who will propose their works in the scheduled exhibitions and various events.
"Lowbrow" and "Pop Surrealism" are born from an unusual alchemical fusion, a multicultural mix in which memories of childhood games blend with aspects of noir carnival, reinventing an ectoplasmic reality that reflects the complications of everyday life. The confusing and hallucinated psychic automatisms of the surrealist movement are now mixed with the American hot rod culture, underground comics and punk music, creating a perfect chaos where absolute iconographic anarchy reigns. Pinups from the 50’s smile to at a gothic Alice rival of Lolitas dancing softly to the songs of the Pixies and Cure. Scenarios inspired by Hieronymus Bosch are filled with strange animals, clumsy figures and comical demons. A paradoxical atmosphere with weird presences that reminds us of a David Lynch film, a multicultural melting pot: street culture, pure pop, bizarre illustration, manga culture, tattoo art. It’s everything that comes from videogames, indie music and sci-fi to strange multicoloured skulls celebrating the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos.
"Lowbrow" is the opposite of "Highbrow" an American term evoking high literature, music, cinematography and art. Robert Williams, American cartoonist and founder of lowbrow culture magazine “Juxtapoz†created this neologism at the end of 1970, a new expression that transmits the power of a movement born from the slums, against a cultural system in decay. "Lowbrow" does not mean low profile but great artistic and cultural impact. In the last years the visual wonders of great artists like Mark Ryden, Todd Schoor, Jeff Soto, Joe Sorren, Shepard Fairey, Tim Biskup and the literary support by manifestos like Weirdo Deluxe by Matt Dukes Jordan and Pop Surrealism: The Rise Of Underground Art by Robert Williams, Carl McCormick, Larry Reid and Kirsten Anderson, helped “Lowbrow†gain a strong position in the world of contemporary art.
Dorothy Circus is not only an art gallery but also a place where art lovers and collectors will find a fresh and diverse choice of new and renowned international artists. A real multicultural space that offers a series of highly selective exhibitions of the most valued artists in the international art scene mixed with a selection of young and promising artists.
Dorothy Circus Gallery will include a bookshop with highly specified editions like Taschen, Chronicle Books, Last Gasp, Dark horse, Gestalten and Murphy Design and art magazines like Juxtapoz, Hi-Fructose, Swindle, Territory, Drome Magazine. It will also feature selected catalogues and limited edition prints. The gallery will host a section dedicated to Design Toys from authors such as Obey, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Fafi, Mars-1 and Tara McPherson and other limited editions toys created by the artists of the Dorothy Circus Art Gallery.
Dorothy Circus aims to introduce and involve the audience with an original and young kind of art, different from the scene founded on a useless exclusive approach.
The physical brightness of the artwork is able to illuminate the mind of those who contemplates it.
