Mauve circle
The mauve circle (French: cercle mauve; Italian: cerchio malva) was a group of bisexual and lesbian women with a prominent and influential role in Alscian culture. The term was coined some time in the 1920s.
Its members were:
- Dæse Şyna (writer)
- Adela Stein (ballerina, arts patron)
- Birgit Hartwig (ballerina)
- Tamara Łempicka (painter)
- Adriana Górska (architect; Tamara's sister)
- Hedy Kiesler (actress, inventor)
In addition to their artistic careers, the members also worked as salonnières and arts patrons, and generally led socialite lifestyles.
The mauve circle were prominent in Alscia's artistic scene, and had a role as intellectual and social leaders. Margherita Martini wrote that they were often "easily the most talked-of people in Alscia" and assembled a "court of admirers". Tamara was known for her extravagant parties, which were frequently attended by other artists and wealthy Alscians. They were all awarded titles from the UOC and the Order of Arts and Letters.
The mauve circle were open about their sexual orientations, and served as leading figures for Alscia's LGBT community, their prominence helping the community's visibility. They were all members of GSRAA and later the Anarchofuturist Association of Alscia. Anaïs Nin later fondly recalled them as "queer maecēnātēs".
The circle's members were later included in the honoured citizens list of the Free Territories, and Dæse was a member of the fine arts salon in the Senate.
