The photo exhibition aims to showcase the beauty and resilience of the Ukrainian circus. Each of the 21 photographs is accompanied by stories of circus artists and their troupes, who continue to bring joy to audiences despite the hardships of wartime.
The exhibition will now run until November 24! Visit the art gallery at the Hotel Continental with the following schedule:
➡️ Tue-Fri: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
➡️ Sat-Sun: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
❌ Mon: Closed
According to Maksym Sydorenko, editor of CircusLife.com.ua and author of the exhibition’s stories, the world — and particularly Germany — knows and loves the circus. This is why the organizers are confident that the unique experiences of Ukrainian circus artists, who remain devoted to their craft, will resonate with an international audience.
“Amid constant alerts, city bombings, and war news, the acrobat finds balance, the clown continues to bring laughter and joy, and the aerial gymnast risks health and life while performing stunts under the circus dome… Under such conditions, circus art transforms into something more than simply ‘the art of wonder.’ It gains a unique meaning and depth.
The art our performers create today becomes an open manifesto of the strength, will, and spirit of the Ukrainian people and each individual who serves a noble purpose. It is both beautiful and courageous. Our exhibition is about light in dark times”.
Maksym Sydorenko and Nikita Delyukov in front of the National Circus of Ukraine
The exhibition photographer, CircusLife’s Nikita Delyukov, noted that selecting just 21 photos to capture the experience of Ukrainian circus artists was challenging. He feels that circus art is significantly underappreciated within the Ukrainian media space.
“During the 2023-2024 season alone, we visited dozens of circus schools and studios and attended festivals that brought together hundreds of performers on stage or in the ring. In choosing photos for the exhibition, we wanted to show the world both the beauty and the depth of the Ukrainian circus, as well as the scale of the industry.
Of course, my photos are primarily about people I admire. I wanted to capture their expressions, emotions, and adrenaline moments while performing breathtaking stunts”.
In his speech to event attendees, National Circus Director Vladyslav Korniienko was candid, emphasizing the exhibition’s importance as a way to convey the truth about the war:
“The world must know the truth about the war, about the Ukrainian circus, and about circus artists whose lives are threatened daily by Russian missiles. We sincerely hope this exhibition reaches as many European cities as possible. Please understand that Ukraine is today the defender of European civilization, and we need your support.
Help us preserve Ukrainian culture and circus, both integral parts of Europe’s cultural life. We hope for the swift end of the war and look forward to shared projects”.
Anastasiia Ilina, an artist with the National Circus, highlighted that working as a circus artist during wartime requires double the effort due to the conditions they face daily: “We often work under conditions that are hard to imagine—without light, heat, or water. At any moment, a Russian missile could hit the very place where you are.
This is not a joke. We know it all too well. But even under such conditions, we keep working, bringing joy to children and adults—even if it means performing in the circus bomb shelter during air raids that interrupt our shows“.
Oleh Pospelov, director and founder of the circus arts studio DuoPospelov Creative Studio, was also invited to speak. Dozens of children are training at Oleh’s studio, learning circus arts and dreaming of a career, including on the international stage. He noted that despite the war, hundreds of circus studios across Ukraine continue to operate, training thousands of talented children with aspirations of performing globally.
Circus of Resilience: Learn How Irpin’s Studio Bounced Back from War’s Grip
We’am Hassan also spoke about the exhibition’s international significance. An Egyptian who first came to Ukraine eight years ago, he chose to build his international career in Ukraine. Today, he is an artist with the National Circus and sees his future in Ukraine.
In his view, the photo exhibition should serve as a powerful reminder to the global community that the war continues and that the world must unite and be resolute in its support of Ukraine. We’am also emphasized that the Ukrainian circus can be a cultural symbol of Ukraine, even amidst war.
A vivid example of the community’s unity can be seen in one of the exhibition’s photos. It captures children, participants of the DyvoCircus festival, lighting up the ring of the National Circus of Ukraine with their smartphone flashlights after the lights went out during an unexpected power outage in June 2024.
Following Berlin, the CircusLife team plans to hold similar events in other European cities, including at the world’s premier circus arts festival in Monte Carlo.
Read how brave Ukrainian Anna DellArt (Anna Petrenko) protested at the Saliri Circus International Salieri Circus Awards against Russians being presented in the festival’s jury.
The photo exhibition will be presented in Kyiv in November 2024. The time and location will be announced separately on the media site and social media.
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