La Foire Aux Monstres

E voltamos (não pela última vez) ao universo dos carnivàles e freak shows com essa refinadíssima série de posters da artista americana Helouise Banks. Variações sobre o eterno tema das irmãs siamesas, com três criativos pares de gêmeas performáticas (amei especialmente as "invertidas" Lavinia e Luciana). Mais abaixo, reproduzo o texto original do blog da autora, onde ela disserta sobre o processo de criação das imagens. Só lamento pela série ser tão curta, seria maravilhoso uma longa série de cartazes nesse estilo.

This is the second attempt at the project 'Number in Print', still associated with the number two, but taken in a new direction. I chose to focus on twins this time round, being a twin myself, I felt that it was the best route to go down.

These designs were inspired mainly by the siamese twins from Victorian freak show fame. I was influenced particularly by the posters of the era showcasing the array of different types of conjoined twins. Each 'act' corresponds to a different type of conjoined twin and lithograph prints from Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

I gave each set of twins classical names derived from William Shakespeare's plays, matching names were and still are commonly associated with twins who usually have similar sounding or alliterated names. (Myself included (Helouise and Harry)).

The first of my posters was influenced by Lautrec's most famous and recognisable poster, 'La Goulue' (1893). I have used a similar colour scheme and composition within the piece. My characters have taken centre stage surrounded by an audience amazed at the contortions the pair can make. The names 'Hermia' and 'Helena' originated from characters taken from Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The second poster was influenced by 'Divan Japonais' (1892/93), again I took a similar colour scheme and was influenced by the pose of Jane Avril in Lautrec's poster. I used black mostly in the piece to show an aerial hoop act staged in the dark with the twins clearly 'lit up' in the front. The pair's names are taken from two different Shakespeare plays, 'Lavinia' from Titus Andronicus and 'Luciana' from The Comedy of Errors.

Lastly, the third poster was influenced by Lautrec's 'Reine de Joie' (1892). This poster design was influenced by the colour scheme only, I liked the use of odd colours, especially the use of an olive green which I felt nicely complimented the yellow. Again I used an audience to surround the twins, framing them in the centre. The name 'Olivia' is taken from Twelfth Night, whilst 'Ophelia' is taken from Hamlet, two famous plays by Shakespeare.

(Helouise Banks)