Variations on CYRK Polish posters

As I've spent more time researching CYRK Polish posters, I've discovered that there can be a whole range of different styles. From surreal to playful, CYRK has it all.

It's important to look at art for its aesthetic quality, but also for the history that goes along with it. CYRK art was first created in 1962, when local artists were commissioned to create advertisements for the new and modern circus. From the theme of CYRK, a myriad of different interpretations by different artists have emerged. For more information on the CYRK story, you can visit http://www.contemporaryposters.com/story/story.php

Here are two great examples of how unique CYRK Polish posters can be:

Juggling on the Tightrope
1967
Pawel Lasik

This poster catches your eye immediately. It's focus is clearly motion, showing the life and energy of the modern circus. Not only is the figure sketchy and loose, but the artist has also incorporated a clever use of color to illustrate motion. I especially like the pale blue stoke against the deep background. This poster demonstrates a painterly element of CYRK Polish posters.


Aerialist with Shadow
1965
Andrzej Kowalewski
This Polish poster, while it's focus is also movement and has a similar subject, is entire different from Juggling on the Tightrope. This poster is entirely graphic. From the bold stencil of the aerialist to the overall linear quality to the piece, this image is about design. What I find most clever is the use of the alternating red and white blocks of color, leading the eye up to the word CYRK.

As a graphic designer, I'm more attracted to Aerialist with Shadow. To me it's striking, to the point, and timeless. The simplicity of the image is it's beauty. This image is just a effective now as it was 40 years ago. It makes the viewer want to know more, and that is the key to good design.

An Introduction to CYRK Art

Hello!

I'm an art student, studying at School of Visual Arts in New York City. In my time studying, I've been exposed to all sorts of art that I didn't know existed! I've really had my eyes opened to new and inspiring works. I recently found a genre that I think is great, the art of the Polish School of Posters...especially Polish CYRK.

As a graphic designer, I can relate to CYRK's integration of both lettering and illustration, seamlessly merging the two into a cohesive image. Fusing image and text together is something I struggle with, so it's refreshing to see the problem tackled in so many ways in CYRK Polish posters.

As I researched Polish posters, I found a site that has many CYRK Polish posters:
http://www.contemporaryposters.com/

I'm trying to decide on my two favorite Polish posters. Here are two that are currently in contention:

"Lion with Legs in the Air"

The bold colors draw you in and in the right hand corner you can see the text "CYRK", which is Polish for circus. What's also intriguing is the audacious use of line, which reminds me of post-impressionism.
"Lion with Legs in the Air" was created by Hubert

Hilscher in 1970.
image from: http://www.contemporaryposters.com/poster.php?number=018

"2 Headed Woman"

This Polish poster is hard to miss, with the bright pink ground and the simple, yet graphically strong image of a woman. This Polish poster also features the work CYRK, in a fashion that is reminiscent of neon lighting.

"2 Headed Woman" was created by Witold Janowski in 1974.
image from: http://www.contemporaryposters.com/poster.php?number=089

-Katie The Art Critic