Circus unvarnished - a photo documentation
For my photo project on the subject of "the foreign", I went into the world of the circus. At the beginning I had no idea if a circus would get involved in this project at all, because the show was rather secondary for me. The attraction came from the life behind the circus ring, which was completely strange to me.
I was interested in what life is like travelling and what it means to be in a different city every week. I picked up the phone and explained my idea for the project. Actually I expected a friendly refusal. Would someone allow me, a stranger with a camera, such a private insight into his life? Yes! And with great enthusiasm. At this point I already felt that this would be a special experience. But what kind of life did I actually imagine in a family circus? Small narrow caravans? Artists who train the whole day for the show? What does such a setup look like at all?
In my photo project I was able to meet and accompany a very open-minded, spontaneous and lovable family. The circus family Aladin gave me a real insight into their everyday life. I could experience both good and bad days. Sometimes everything went according to plan and sometimes nothing worked. There were motivated and rainy days. Despite the constant change of place and the unusual living situation there is a completely normal everyday life as with each of us. The life in the family circus does not only consist of show and artists, but of an interaction of hard work, independence, household, family life and of course also show.
My photo project shows documentary how life in the circus really looks like. Nothing is romanticized or prettified. It is shown exactly as it is. Without make-up.
For my photo project on the subject of "the foreign", I went into the world of the circus. At the beginning I had no idea if a circus would get involved in this project at all, because the show was rather secondary for me. The attraction came from the life behind the circus ring, which was completely strange to me.
I was interested in what life is like travelling and what it means to be in a different city every week. I picked up the phone and explained my idea for the project. Actually I expected a friendly refusal. Would someone allow me, a stranger with a camera, such a private insight into his life? Yes! And with great enthusiasm. At this point I already felt that this would be a special experience. But what kind of life did I actually imagine in a family circus? Small narrow caravans? Artists who train the whole day for the show? What does such a setup look like at all?
In my photo project I was able to meet and accompany a very open-minded, spontaneous and lovable family. The circus family Aladin gave me a real insight into their everyday life. I could experience both good and bad days. Sometimes everything went according to plan and sometimes nothing worked. There were motivated and rainy days. Despite the constant change of place and the unusual living situation there is a completely normal everyday life as with each of us. The life in the family circus does not only consist of show and artists, but of an interaction of hard work, independence, household, family life and of course also show.
My photo project shows documentary how life in the circus really looks like. Nothing is romanticized or prettified. It is shown exactly as it is. Without make-up.
Publications
January 2018 - Semester exhibition at the Department of Design of the FH Aachen
June 2018 - Publication in the magazine MOVIE Aachen (see video)
September 2018 - Streaming Pictures at the Museum for Applied Arts Cologne (MAKK)
June 2018 - Publication in the magazine MOVIE Aachen (see video)
September 2018 - Streaming Pictures at the Museum for Applied Arts Cologne (MAKK)
