From May 24 until July 20 Galleria Mucciaccia will host ‘The Clown Spirit – The Traveling Exhibition’.

Inspired by family history related to the circus, curator Joanna De Vos embraced this world of wonder as a theme. Fascinated by modern masterpieces influenced by the circus, and building on close connections with contemporary artists, the desire arose to invite artists to create a self-portrait as a clown. An invitation that was answered with enthusiasm and excitement through the countries and the generations.

Many artists have at least some affinity with the existence of the clown. The melancholic artist - the serious clown, the comical artist - the tragic clown, the idiotic artist - the subversive clown, the comforting artist, … They all have the gift to transcend life. To make their fellow humans see, feel or think differently.

The clown/artist gives tragic life a comical face, and vice versa. The artist/clown is a clone and a canvas for various symbols. In their own extremes, the artist/clowns are both modest and elated.

That contradiction forms the energy flowing through ‘The Clown Spirit’ – an exhibition that came into existence as a direct consequence of the overflowing response of artists to the question to create self-portraits as a clown.

The artist, like the jester and the clown, keeps a finger on the pulse of humanity and society. Someone who can be permitted to play with truths and fictions and manages to expose the mechanisms of life - the circus of life. The artist positions himself as a catalyst of wonder and freedom, a symbol that invites us to reflect on the circus around us, and to get moving. As a wandering mind grasping at wonders and worlds.

‘The Clown Spirit’ shows the ongoing series of contemporary self-portraits as a clown at Galleria Mucciaccia in Rome, opening on May 24th 2023, 6.30pm and closing on June 24th 2023.

It was previously shown at:

• De Rossaert, Ronny Van de Velde Gallery, Antwerp (16.10.2020 - 31.01.2021)
• Belgian Gallery, Namur as part of ‘The Circus We Are’ exhibition on several locations in the city (13.04.2022 – 25.10.2022)

Participating artists:

Marina Abramović , Hugo Alonso, Homa Arkani, Uldus Bakhtiozina, Fred Bervoets, Guillaume Bijl, Elke Andreas Boon, Muhiba Botan, Oona Bovri, Carlos Caballero, Paolo Canevari, Jacques Charlier, Izumi Chiaraluce, Giulia Cotterli, Michael Dans, Laura de Coninck, Peter de Cupere, Samuel De Maré, Wim Delvoye, Robert Devriendt, Jorik Dzobava, Sidi El Karchi, Manfred Erjautz, Dodi Espinosa, Che Go Eun, Inci Eviner, Jan Fabre, Mike Figgis, Flexboj & L.A., Michael Fliri, Sasha Frolova, Kendell Geers, Maya Gold, Oda Jaune, Pieter Jennes, Fermin Jimenez Landa, Marie-Jo Lafontaine, Mous Lamrabat, Sigalit Landau, Tom Liekens, William Ludwig Lutgens, Fernando Marques Penteado, Enrique Marty, Fabien Mérelle, Messieurs Delmotte, Elena Minyeyevtseva, Pieter Laurens Mol, Jorge Molder, Mothmeister , Sofie Muller, Johan Muyle, Eleni Mylonas, Maryam Najd, Nadia Naveau, Florence Obrecht & Axel Pahlavi, Katie O'Hagan, Hans Op de Beeck, ORLAN, Petrovsky & Ramone, Antonis Pittas, Viktor Popov, Anastasia Potemkina, Daniele Puppi, Anna Raimondo, Gabriel Roca, Julião Sarmento, Rob Scholte, Raoul Servais, Danilo Sciorilli, Nedko Solakov, Giuseppe Stampone, Berend Strik, Elly Strik, Koen Theys, Filippos Tsitsopoulos, Jan Van Imschoot, Yves Velter, Nils Verkaeren, Fabien Verschaere, Vadim Vosters, Andy Wauman, Santiago Ydañez, Mary Zygouri