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Milton Lopes

Milton Lopes

A graphic novel style painting in red and black, of Milton Lopes, a mixed race man, with shoulder length dreadlocks and who doesn't have fingers on his left hand. He is doing aerial harness, in the middle of a red painted spiral, reaching towards the centre of the image with his left hand.

“I really don’t like the way that people see disabled performers as inspirational or ‘brave’, regardless of what we do on stage”

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Uncategorised

Redefining Form

Photo of live circus-theatre production What The Circus?. The image shows a young black man with dreadlocks, wearing a black and gold sparkly dress, and a young white woman with shoulder length blond hair, who is wearing sunglasses, a suit jacket, tie and slightly unbuttoned shirt. He is leaning towards her cupping his hand as if to whisper something into her ear. She is holding a microphone and her mouth is slightly open as if she is saying something. Both performers are looking forward into the camera.

I once received an email from the Artistic Director of a circus venue, offering a ‘residency’ so that we, myself and my company, could – with his help – ‘fix’ our show and make it more ‘circusy’.

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Stav Meishar

Legacies

A graphite pencil sketch on a white background by bristol artist Gail Reid. The scene is the aftermath of Colston's statue being pulled down. Central is the ornate stone and bronze plinth on which the statue stood. On it now stands a young black female demonstrator, with shoulder length hair who is looking out with one fist raised in the air. At the bottom of the plinth placards are displayed, leaning in a pile. One depicts a stenciled raised fist, others read ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Silence is violence’, and another lists 20+ names of young black people who died in the custody of UK police. In the background disappearing out of frame, we can see the overturned statue of colston.

As a circus-theatre artist whose work is based on historical figures, I think celebrating lineage is important.

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Simone

Imagining UTOPIAN

A dark photograph of three artists covered in green, pink and blue UV paint. They are seated on a stage in a circle, at the left Ruby a white tall female with short hair is seated reaching out for Duane with Symoné's hand caressing her face. In the middle Symoné, a black female, is staring into Duane's eyes with his hand on her chin staring back. To the right, Duane, a non-binary person, has their back turned facing Symoné.
Credit Jemima Yong

I sit near a 20ft bonfire, neon lights are slowly breathing in the distance and the faded sound of liquid drum and bass vibrates through the air.

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Chloe Mantripp In Temp

Chloe Mantripp

A photograph of Chloe sat on the bottom rung of a scaffolding tower, leaning her elbows on her knees. Her hair is dark, she has pale skin and dark eye makeup. She is looking straight at the camera, her right hand bringing the flame of a lighter towards the end of a roll up cigarette that is held between her unsmiling lips.

“I like that human nature is base and dirty and I think that my work reflects that…”

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Daisy Drury

Daisy Drury

A photograph of a card distributed to audiences at the Depart shows. The paper is slightly worn. Yellow writing in block letters on a black background state You are entering our place. Walk in silence. Follow the light. Don’t look back. #departcircus @2017Hull

“I think circus is wonderful but what I like about it is that there are still enormous questions…”

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Maisy Taylor

Maisy Taylor

A black and white portrait image of the artist. She is slim, bare chested and wearing shorts with a bold white waistband. Her body is turned to the left, almost away and she is looking back directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

“I’m interested in the body in performance and when that even stops…”

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In Temp Marisa Carnesky

Marisa Carnesky

Seven people stand in the shallows of a red sea in front of a blue and cloudy sky. The people are wearing different red costumes and are holding hands together in the air.

“There I was, naked, tattooed, cutting a Star of David into myself…”

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In Temp Vicki Amedume

Vicki Amedume

A photograph of two dancers from Upswing’s Catch Me piece. A slight, older white woman with short silver hair leans her back into the chest of a young black man with a short goatee and dark hair in cornrows. Her head is back, eyes closed, her arms are raised, she is relaxed, her head resting on his shoulder.

“How we use our bodies in the world is always political”

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Ben Duke In Temp

Ben Duke

“If I can just say this thing, I don’t need to dance”