MR. Chap - From the life of a clown

A collection of photographs taken in several cities in the Czech Republic in 2023-2024 captures a Polish artist named Janusz Russek (60 years old), who has been a circus clown all his life. His art is among the best in Europe. The photographs try to show the clown as a person who does his best for his job, regardless of the fact that he lives more than 10 months a year separated from his family, has his own health or emotional problems. Simply the way the audience does not see him. Janusz graduated from a circus school in the field of clowning. He is currently in his third engagement in the largest Czech circus, Humberto. He is married, has two adult children. He is the first and last generation in the circus in his family. Both of his children have a university education. As he gets older, it becomes increasingly difficult for him to maintain top performance, especially in terms of physical fitness. Therefore, he has to take care of his health and preparation. From a personal point of view, this work is very exhausting. In every situation, he has to make the audience of all ages laugh in the circus. There are days when he is troubled by health, personal problems or a small number of spectators. Yet it is impossible for the audience to recognize it. When Janusz is backstage or in the privacy of his small caravan, he often lacks a smile. That is the fate of clowns. Making people laugh, even when he is not in the mood to laugh! I have known him as an author since 2009, when I started photographing the circus and thanks to our long-standing acquaintance, he allowed me to capture his privacy. The most personal photographs began to be created in 2023 and continue to this day. This project is still ongoing!