"Circesque" is a celebration of an idea Christian Tagliavini had in 2008 and resulted in his photographic series of the same title produced in 2019. Exploring the world of the circus, this specially crafted book is a unique invitation for the reader to form their own stories through exquisitely detailed costumes, unexpected props, and a glimpse of the people behind the greasepaint and powder.

"Circesque", explores the untold lives of circus folk. Stripped of the tired clichés of circus life, these mise-en-scène portraits reveal the human behind the archetype. The images betray the protagonists’ innermost feelings as they mount the platform, put themselves on the line, and take the risk: all under the watchful eye of their audience. Acrobats. Trapezists. High-wire performers. Escape artists. Tattooed ladies. Jugglers. Nature-defying contortionists. All present and accounted for as in any traditional Big Top. But a closer look reveals some unusual details.

After the eponymous first book by artist Christian Tagliavini, which was also published by teNeues in 2018, the second to his latest photo series Circesque is now published. The exceptional artist, whose art uniquely combines craft, photography and stage design, dedicates himself here to the actors of the circus world. Sometimes enigmatic, sometimes touching, always rich in detail and stylistically driven to the extreme, these latest works of the Swiss fascinate his viewers anew.

 About the Author:

Christian Tagliavini was born in 1971 and grew up in Italy and Switzerland. Christian Tagliavini studied graphic design and worked as an architect and graphic artist before he focused on photographic art in 2000. His artistic development shaped his complex relationship with the art form. His works are not only pictures but designed narratives for which Christian Tagliavini produces all visible components himself: ranging from the interior of the set to the clothing of the protagonists. He regards himself as photographic craftsman with these unique compositions. His highly praised series 1503 (2010), Carte (2012), Voyages Extraordinaires (2015), 1406 (2017), and Circesque (2019/20) have been part of numerous international exhibitions and art fairs. He ranks among the most influential contemporary photographic artists in the field of staged photography. Christian Tagliavini’s works are part of leading international private, public, and corporate collections. Christian Tagliavini works and lives in Switzerland.

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The first monograph of one of the most exciting contemporary photographers, featuring all of his photography series to date and a look behind the scenes

Since the beginning of his career, Swiss-Italian photographer Christian Tagliavini has been fascinated by mise-en-scène photography and Renaissance portraiture. Referencing the painting style of the Old Masters, his carefully-staged photo portraits exude the dignity and composure of 15th and 16th-century courtly culture, meticulously replicating their dimensions, framing, and chiaroscuro effects. After his breakthrough with the series 1503, Tagliavini returns to the art historical theme with his new series, 1406, published for the first time in this book. In his process, however, Tagliavini takes a step further back from the Renaissance artist ideal, presenting himself instead as a “photographic craftsman” who designs each of his costumes and props by hand with a small team.

Particularly elaborate was the work on his most extensive series to-date, Voyages Extraordinaires, for which Tagliavini constructed entire scenes inspired by Jules Vernes’ novels. All of Tagliavini’s series are meticulously composed mise-en-scènes with a stunning, fantastical effect partly reminiscent of his early photographic idols Jeff Wall, Erwin Olaf, and Gregory Crewdson. This Tagliavini monograph includes all of his photographic series to-date as well as the images documenting the evolution of his projects he spent months working on. The result is both a comprehensive Tagliavini catalogue and a fascinating insight into the working process of one of the most original and talented photographers working today.

 About the Author:

Christian Tagliavini was born in 1971 and grew up in Italy and Switzerland. Before his photography career, he worked in engineering and architecture firms and as graphic designer, as reflected in his comprehensive approach.