Roman Škadra
He/him
Circus artist
Country: Slovakia – Germany
Discipline: Performance – Circus – Participatory art
Type of public space: Rural – Nature
PLATFORM 2025 - 2028 Open call #1
Biography
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 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. The central theme of his pieces is the absurd and his performances are characterised by intense physical involvement.
In 2021, Roman premiered Absurd Hero, his first full-length stage work. In 2024, Roman premiered Girevik. In addition to his own projects, Roman has been part of Squarehead Productions’ For As Long As We’re Here.
Artistic project
IM BAU ("Under contruction") is a series of site-specific artistic interventions at the interface between installation, durational performance and participative play. This project focuses on a process- based approach to combining two materials - iron and wood. Using an analogue method of assembling kettlebells and wooden beams, sculptures are created that lead to spontaneous encounters between participants. The work exists only thanks to the active participation of the public. The boundary between the audience and the artist is abolished as everyone present becomes part of the work. The project strives to emphasise the pragmatic function of lifting and the meditative character of monotonous physical work while fostering togetherness and cooperation. In this context, the kettlebell is seen as a symbol of the industrialisation of the ancient human activity of lifting rather than a training tool.
Format: expedition, sculpture, performance
Size of audience: from 20 to 50 people
Specific location: rural areas, meadows, fields, woods
Timing / duration: various duration, between 1 -4 hours
