From painters, to composers and theatrical directors, many an artist’s imagination has been captured by the colours and theatricality of the circus. Here is our top five list of artworks inspired by the circus.
Artworks inspired by the circus | Photo: Junction Festival
1. Igor Stravinsky: Circus Polka
In 1942 the choreographer George Balanchine received a commission from the circus to create a ballet for elephants. Balanchine reached out to his friend and collaborator, Igor Stravinsky, asking him to compose a polka. When Stravinsky inquired about the performers, Balanchine informed him it was for elephants. Stravinsky reportedly agreed, but only if they were “very young” elephants. The result was this brisk and bright little piece, featuring 50 elephants and 50 dancers, with the elephant Modoc as the “premiere ballerina.”
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2. Pablo Picasso: Family of Saltimbanques
Next in our survey of artworks inspired by the circus is this 1905 painting. Blending elements of Pablo Picasso’s Blue and Rose periods, it portrays a group of itinerant clowns and acrobats, capturing their sense of melancholy and alienation. Many critics have suggested that it is in fact a covert group portrait of Picasso’s social circle, while Picasso himself is believed to be represented as the harlequin in a diamond-patterned costume. Either way, it has certainly had a lasting impact on art and literature, inviting multiple interpretations over the years.
3. Philip Glass: Circus Days and Nights
Based on the poems of Robert Lax, who travelled with a circus, the minimalist American composer Philip Glass’s opera chronicles a day in the life of a traveling circus, from setting up the tent to performing and then tearing everything down. Glass intended to use the daily rhythms and routines of circus performers as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of existence – an intention that, with the help of his chugging, deliberately repetitive style, he managed to fulfil with panache.
4. Circa: Dido and Aeneas
In this cross-displinary performance, circus artistry combines with opera to produce a new twist on Purcell’s Baroque opera Dido and Aeneas. The result is a shadow-filled spectacle, fully of gravity defying acrobatics, that aims to emphasise the colours and rhythms of Purcell’s 1689 masterpiece.
5. Gingerline: A Grand Expedition
Finally, our list of artworks inspired by the circus concludes with Gingerline’s immersive dining experience, in which guests embark on a journey around the world in hot air balloons, experiencing different destinations through food, performances and visuals. The latest incarnation of the 2018 production also included circus performers aerialists and dancers, adding extra pungency to the flavour.