PRESS RELEASE
DO NOT ENTER – AN EXHIBITION OF ART PHOTOGRAPHY
The internationally acclaimed Italian photographer, Rossano B. Maniscalchi, opens an
exhibition of his art photography in the Manes Gallery. On this occasion he will
introduce his new book of the same title which has served as the basis for the
exhibited photographs.
Prague, 1st July: DO NOT ENTER, a unique photo exhibition running until the end of July
includes more than 60 oversized black and white photographs as well as several photo
canvasses.
Rossano B. Maniscalchi received the prestigious “Best Photographer of USA“ award in 1994
and 1995 and has become known as an art photographer who searches for the ideal play of
light and shadow, portraying the female body with a sensuous erotic charge. His new book
DO NOT ENTER marks his entry into the world of fine art photography phantasy which
together with the remarkable graphic design – the work of designer Robert Jašek of Graffitti
Networks – exposes the rawness of the erotic, of prejudice, the juxtaposition of illusions and
the reality. Together they have selected around 150 photographs covering Rossano’s work
from his beginnings until today, featuring locations personally important to Rossano from Los
Angeles,Miami, New York to Florence, Stockholm Prague and many international City‘s. The
book is divided into six thematic parts: (1) Sexy & Dangerous, (2) Reflections, (3) Re-Cycling,
(4) Demons Love Angels, (5) On the Trip, (6) To the Point.
“In my work I focus on several disciplines: art photography, portraits of celebrities – writers,
artists, politicians, Nobel prize winners and fashion photography for world leading brands
such as Dior, Gucci Ferragamo for show rooms, and many others. I have always respected
this division in my previous books where I‘ve tried to combine these three disciplines
together. In my seventh and last book, I wanted to focus only on art photography with a slight
touch of the eroticism, mysticism and prejudice,“ says Rossano B. Maniscalchi and he
continues: “I’ve asked my designer and good friend Robert Jašek, managing partner and
creative director of Graffitti Networks to help me with my new book DO NOT ENTER since I
am aware that Robert knows my work in detail and I trust his instincts for photo selection to
obtain maximum effect. Robert agreed on the condition that he participate in the selection
and composition of the photographs in the book. I must say that the final appearance of the
book from Graffitti Networks is very interesting, Robert has accurately captured the
atmosphere of my photograhy.“
“I know Rossano’s work quite intimately,“ says Robert Jašek, “in the past the books we
designed together were a little conventional. After Rossano and I decided that this time we
will concentrate only on art photography, I instantly knew that the design would have a form
that would be anything but conventional. We have devoted a great deal of time to the
selection and composition of the photographs which I later suggested be divided into six
thematic parts. I was inspired by punk, poster style, urban design and newspaper headlines
for the design layout. For some sets of photographs I have chosen to do a collage or crop
them in such a way as to exctract the maximum atmosphere. I’m grateful to Rossano for his
confidence in me and I’m happy that he was thrilled with the final form of the book.“
DO NOT ENTER is published in a limited series of 1000 copies, the first 100 of them are
numbered. The book is 240 pages and contains 150 photographs some of which have been
exhibited previously in international museums and galleries or published in international
magazines; first and foremost however there are photographs which have never been
published before and are current work of Rossano B. Maniscalchi. The artistic value of the
book is augmented by the introduction by Michael March, the chairman of the Prague
Writers‘ Festival and Enzo Siciliano, the recently deceased Italian novelist and essayist.
The book launch of DO NOT ENTER will take place on the 1st of July during the opening of
the exhibition in the Manes Gallery in the presence of the Italian Ambassador, H.E. Fabio
Pigliapoco, members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce, representatives of Unicredit Bank
and other partners, sponsors and friends of Rossano B. Maniscalchi. Rossano has dedicated
his book to his young daughter Sofia, who is captured in the photo named Il mio Piccolo
Angelo.
After the Prague Manes Gallery, the exhibition will move to the National Czech Cultural
Center Gallery in New York where the photography will be exhibited from the 2nd to the 22nd
October 2009. In 2010, Rossano will take the exhibition to his native Italy to display the
works in in the Fratelli Alinari are planning photography museum in Florence.
Rossano B. Maniscalchi lives in Prague with his family and travels abroad for work, however,
Prague has given him many photo opportunities. Since 1998 he has been the official
photographer of the Prague Writers‘ Festival, an annual cultural event – this year’s festival
took place at the beginning of June.
The book has been created with the support of the following partners:
A Unicredit Bank, Passerinvest Group, Graffitti Networks, Hotel Roma Praha, Instituto Italiano di Cultura Praga, Ambasciata
D´Italia Praga, Mattoni, Zatiší Catering, Nespresso, La Fattoria, Nadace Vize 97, CIPA, Elektron, Prague Writers´Festival,
Argus, Longo Print & Communication, Bird & Bird, My Clinic Prague, Studio Cavedale, Art OK, Joy, Innova, Ferrero, Lush,
Trilabit, Foto Škoda, Ambassador Zlatá Husa, Orrero, TopKlas, Members´Club, Sardegna Travel, Manghi Group.
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For more information, please contact:
Graffitti Networks Grafix (PR agency)
Švábky 2
Praha 8
Tel.: 777 57 87 32
e-mail: martina@gng.cz