http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/12082 Circus used to be one of the most popular mass entertainments of communist time in Poland. Artists who performed in the circus at the time were heroes beloved by crowds. At their glory days, Polish circus artists worked for the biggest and the most prestigious circuses all over the world. They all came from circus school in Julinek, which was considered one of the best in the central-eastern European region. Since 90-ties Julinek has been slowly dying. The circus base that employed up to 1500 artists and technician workers was closed due to financial problems. I portrayed retired artists who worked in circus for 20-50 years. Some of them I photographed in their houses. Although retired for many years they still keep old circus performance dresses. The others I photographed in ruins of Julinek circus center. For all of them it was one day trip to the past. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/1635/maly_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534558/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_001_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Biala Podlaska / 25.07.2007 / Jozef Maksymiuk (59) posing for portrait in ghost disguise in his house. For most of his 25-year career he had been performing as a clown. He has been retired for 8 years. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534558'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534558 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534558 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534558/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_001_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Biala Podlaska / 25.07.2007 / Jozef Maksymiuk (59) posing for portrait in ghost disguise in his house. For most of his 25-year career he had been performing as a clown. He has been retired for 8 years. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534558'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534551/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_003_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534551'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534551 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534551 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534551/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_003_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534551'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534525/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_019_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Julinek / 26.07.2007 / Stanislaw Krawczyk (73) posing for portrait in one of the corridors leading to circus arena. He had been performing as an acrobat artist for more than 20 years. He has been retired for 21 years(c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534525'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534525 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534525 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534525/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_019_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Julinek / 26.07.2007 / Stanislaw Krawczyk (73) posing for portrait in one of the corridors leading to circus arena. He had been performing as an acrobat artist for more than 20 years. He has been retired for 21 years(c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534525'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534534/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_010_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Julinek / 26.07.2007 / A curtain at the entrance of the ruined circus arena. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534534'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534534 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534534 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534534/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_010_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Julinek / 26.07.2007 / A curtain at the entrance of the ruined circus arena. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534534'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534540/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_006_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Warsaw / 17.07.2007 / Krzysztof Zielinski (71) posing for portrait in illusionist dress at his apartment. He had been performing as an acrobat and than illusionist for 43 years. He stopped his artistic career 4 years ago. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534540'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534540 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534540 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534540/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_006_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Warsaw / 17.07.2007 / Krzysztof Zielinski (71) posing for portrait in illusionist dress at his apartment. He had been performing as an acrobat and than illusionist for 43 years. He stopped his artistic career 4 years ago. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534540'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534522/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_024_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534522'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534522 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534522 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534522/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_024_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534522'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534530/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_013_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Julinek / 26.07.2007 / Stanislaw Krawczyk (73) posing for portrait on ruined circus arena. He had been performing as an acrobat artist for more than 20 years. He has been retired for 21 years. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534530'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534530 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534530 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534530/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_013_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Julinek / 26.07.2007 / Stanislaw Krawczyk (73) posing for portrait on ruined circus arena. He had been performing as an acrobat artist for more than 20 years. He has been retired for 21 years. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534530'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534543/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_005_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Warsaw / 11.07.2007 / Stanislaw Kapisz (87) posing for portrait in his apartmement. He had been working as circus orchestra conductor, musician and composer for 34 years. He has been retired for 17 years. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534543'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534543 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534543 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534543/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_005_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Warsaw / 11.07.2007 / Stanislaw Kapisz (87) posing for portrait in his apartmement. He had been working as circus orchestra conductor, musician and composer for 34 years. He has been retired for 17 years. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534543'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534546/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_004_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534546'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534546 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534546 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534546/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_004_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534546'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534555/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_002_small.jpg' /><br /> POLAND / Warsaw / 06.07.2007 / Zdzislaw Niemeczek (63) posing for portrait in illusionist dress at the corridor of the housing block he lives. For 46 years, he had been performing as an acrobat and illusionist artist. He has been retired for 8 years. He started to perform as a 10 years old boy (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534555'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534555 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534555 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534555/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_002_small.jpg' /><br /> POLAND / Warsaw / 06.07.2007 / Zdzislaw Niemeczek (63) posing for portrait in illusionist dress at the corridor of the housing block he lives. For 46 years, he had been performing as an acrobat and illusionist artist. He has been retired for 8 years. He started to perform as a 10 years old boy (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534555'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534516/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_027_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534516'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534516 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534516 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534516/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_027_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534516'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534561/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_028_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Julinek / 26.07.2007 / Stanislaw Krawczyk (73) posing for portrait on ruined circus arena. He had been performing as an acrobat artist for more than 20 years. He has been retired for 21 years. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534561'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534561 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:39:55 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534561 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/534561/Rafal_Milach_Disappearing_Circus_028_small.jpg' /><br />POLAND / Julinek / 26.07.2007 / Stanislaw Krawczyk (73) posing for portrait on ruined circus arena. He had been performing as an acrobat artist for more than 20 years. He has been retired for 21 years. (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger (c) Rafal Milach / Anzenberger<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/534561'>view full-size image</a> Rafal Milach