Circus – a personal exhibition by Gianbattista Longhi

On Sunday, March, 30th, 2025 the personal exhibition by photographer Gianbattista Longhi “Circus” will open at our gallery.

In a Venice vibrant with art, we are proud to present the personal exhibition by Gianbattista Longhi.

Since our first meeting in 2022, we have been fascinated by Gianbattista Longhi’s project on the circus world. It was not only the photographs, which were undoubtedly beautiful and of great impact, but also the way he has spoken to us about it, conveying his overwhelming enthusiasm for small realities, often consisting of a single family unit that travels from village to village to offer the local public a respectable show.

When we finally saw the shots he had told us about, we were immediately swept up in a whirlwind of emotions: the amazement, happiness, enthusiasm and joy conveyed by the performers with their performances, the joy they would feel when the audience appreciates them, but also the fatigue of a life spent on the move, constantly setting up and taking down their set, without neglecting the inherent dreamlike aspect of the circus.

Usually circus is associated with being a child, but Circus succeeds in transporting us into this varied and subjective world of emotions as we are, in the moment we are living n our lives. Whether we experienced it yesterday or twenty years ago, we are all involved, and we assume that the author’s deliberate absence of titles for the photographs in the exhibition is an open door to free personal interpretation of each shot.

Emotions overwhelm us, I was saying, and both the black and white of each photograph, taken in analogue and not post-produced, and the baryta paper contribute to creating an atmosphere, to bringing out shapes, three-dimensionality, shadows, the tonal contrasts between all the greyscale.

Whether it is the subjects, the framing, the memories or the atmosphere, we are confident that Circus’ photographs will speak directly to your heart.

THE ARTIST: GIANBATTISTA LONGHI

A photographer for poetry, professional since 1994, he did several solo exhibitions. His photoreportages are taken with analog cameras in black and white on baryta paper, to give photography all the power of reality without post-productions that would contrast with the immediacy of his style, thanks to poetic images of the circus world. His photographs have been exhibited in many locations as the Colleoni Castle in Solza, Casa Bacchetta in Treviglio, Furetti Carrara Palace in Presezzo, Spazio Polaresco in Bergamo, Spazio Hub in Treviglio, Cerreto Castle, Rozzone Castle, Sala Olmi in Bergamo province, Spazio Fantoni in Bergamo for “Bergamo Brescia Capitale della Cultura 2023”, and in several private galleries in Venice, Padua and Milan.

The photographic book “Circus”

On the occasion of the exhibition, Gianbattista Longhi will present his new photographic book ‘Circus’, printed in a limited edition on high quality paper. A true love declaration for these small International realities and these artists unique to him, photographed between 1990 and 2022 in various locations between Italy and France.

The opening event: a guided tour of the exhibition by the artist

To give this story its rightful place, we have organized a special event: a guided tour by the photographer himself in the gallery with a final book-signing on Sunday 30 March 2025 at 11 am.

Participation is free of charge but places are limited! If you would like to participate, register now at this link: https://VisitaGuidataconGianbattistaLonghi.eventbrite.com

For any further information do not hesitate to email us at ghetto.etcetera@gmail.com or call us at 041-2750039