Absurd Hero

What is success? Is failure a state of mind? Can I find joy and happiness in my struggle? If the object doesn’t care if I beat it, am I really beating it? “Absurd Hero” reveals a dead-pan delirious drama between artist and large 25 kg heavy red walking globe. The artist puts himself repeatedly into the hopeless situations on the edge between physical and emotional endurance. The artist struggles. There is/can be/has been no success, only the perseverance of persistent attempts. Inspired by the Myth of Sisyphus from Albert Camus, the work presents circus as a potentially joyful, yet endlessly futile endeavor.

Roman Škadra

Roman Škadra (1985) is a juggler and circus maker from Slovakia. He holds a Master’s degree in geography from the Comenius University in Bratislava. In 2012 he moved to Berlin and completed training in contemporary circus at Die Etage – Schule für darstellende und bildende Kunst in Berlin.
In Roman’s artistic work, various techniques merge to investigate the relationship between body and object. In recent years, his practice has shifted away from juggling towards manipulating heavy objects. Roman is part of a movement of artists who question the conventional perception of circus, creating works that stand at the intersection of different art forms and are intended to be presented in diverse contexts. He draws inspiration from literature, visual art, sports, and human labour.
In 2021, Roman premiered Absurd Hero, his first full-length stage work.
Currently, Roman is in the late phase of creation of his second stage work Girevik. The piece will premiere on February 13, 2024 Circopolis Festival Praga. In addition to his own work, Roman collaborated with Stefan Sing in Critical Mess and has been part of Squarehead Productions’ For As Long As We’re Here.