Interview: Encircled Beauty at Camden Fringe

The Camden Fringe Interviews

Kamila CK talks about The Circle of Everything

Here at ET Central we see a lot of press releases and images, but when Kamila CK sent over press shots for her show The Circle of Everything we were in awe. Blending the performing and visual arts together with Japanese spirituality, this new piece looks like it will be a unique experience.

Even more pleasing though was that Kamila matched her photos with her words when we caught up with her to chat about the show which will be coming to The Cockpit Theatre on the 18th August for Camden Fringe.

Welcome and thanks for speaking to us, shall we do introductions.

My name is Kamila (artist name Kamila CK), I am an interdisciplinary visual artist working in performance (aerial dance, physical theatre) and painting (colourful abstraction and Japanese Zen caligraphy). I am the creator, choreographer and performer of the piece. I have been developing performance and visuals works for the last 5 years but this is by far my most authentic and impactful work. 

What can audiences expect from your show?

It’s immersive, visual and physical. It introduces an interdisciplinary visual approach to standard theatre audience. The work also carries an important universal message celebrating the life force around us and within us. The invisible, infinite energy. It was developed in response to the disconnection and distractions pervading society today.

Where will we find you for Camden Fringe?

Cockpit Theatre. I love the stage set up, the audience sits on three sides of the stage, creating a unique sense of intimacy. They also have a huge screen for my projections and great heights for the aerial hoop sections. With 130 capacity, the audience size is still immersive and intimate.

What was the inspiration behind the show?

The piece draws inspiration from Enso, the iconic circular symbol considered the pinnacle of Zen Buddhism and a mirror of the moon. Empty yet full, infinite yet complete, it symbolizes unity, enlightenment, strength, and elegance in all its purity and simplicity. It reflects the Zen philosophy of energy expression in the moment; the artist paints the circle in one breath, with no corrections permitted afterward. If done on a large scale, the painting act is very performative and physical.

My fascination with painting Enso circles started following my visits to Japan in 2018 and 2019 and studying Japanese calligraphy. At the same time, in 2019, I completed a professional course in circus art in London (after five years of prior training, starting at the age of 30 with no gymnastics or dance background). As both of these passions grew into my art practice simultaneously, I wanted to combine them in one all-encompassing performance work where all elements are connected and complement each other.

When I started painting Enso on a larger scale in early 2022, I realised that the large circular shape perfectly corresponds to an aerial hoop. Once I had this idea in my head, there was nothing else I could focus on. I felt like I was the only person in the world who could see a connection between them on both an aesthetic and metaphorical level for a performance idea. This comes from my love of philosophy and especially the concept of duality, which I use a lot in my works. For me, the two circles perfectly represent duality, with one circle representing ‘the higher’ hanging in the air and the other representing ‘the lower’ on the floor beneath. I also expanded on it from the storytelling and choreographic point of view, exploring our sense of connection to oneself, others, and the world, as well as our sense of separation.

Is Camden Fringe going to be the show’s first time on stage?

Yes, Camden Fringe will be the official premiere of the work and the first time it will be performed. However, it has been a long journey to get here, evolving and creating this work through various forms.
In 2022, I created the first version of the work titled “The Odyssey of the Circle” during my residency in France in collaboration with the audio-visual duo Lola & Yukao Meet, Bourgogne. It was an interdisciplinary 20-minute performance where, for the first time, I tested my idea of aerial hoop choreography and painting Enso in one performance work. The finale of the work featured me painting a large Enso against the backdrop of an aerial hoop and full moon. The triple-circle composition was magical, awakening a profound sense of awe within me and those who witnessed it. Over time, the concept evolved in my mind, prompting questions such as: what if the Enso painting were created on stage earlier? What if I could reproduce this resonance where the key element is replicated in multiple artistic mediums? How would it alter aerial choreography, and how could this mirroring effect enhance storytelling? Could I design and curate my own moving images?

In 2023, I took part in the performance residency at Clarence Mews in London, where I attempted to answer these questions (and more) with my new work, “The Circle of Everything.” It became my most complex and authentic work to date. It was very challenging on a practical level as I worked on choreography, music, and visuals simultaneously to produce a work where all elements are interlinked and connected. Initially, it was tested in front of a private audience as a 3-minute aerial excerpt in September. Following feedback, it evolved into a 12-minute live painting and aerial performance in December. The premiere for Camden Fringe will feature the extended 40-minute theatre version that I have been developing since January 2024. I am so looking forward to sharing it with London audience for the first time.

If you had to describe your show as a colour, what would it be?

It would not be just one colour, it would be a multi-layered, colourful field with various hues overlapping and complementing each other, creating a mesmerising experience.

Are there any plans for what comes next after August – for you or the show?

The Circle of Everything will continue its journey beyond the Camden Fringe. In November, a 20-minute version of the work will be presented at the Lincoln Arts Centre. Additionally, I plan to develop a film version that can be displayed in art galleries, film festivals, and public spaces, making the work more accessible despite the site-specific challenges posed by its aerial elements and technology. Finally, I am seeking producers and funding to turn this project into a UK tour accompanied by an exhibition of my visual works (performance photographs as well as a collection of Enso painting – all linked to the show itself). 

At the same time, I will continue to create and show new works, both performances and paintings. There are a few exciting collaborations in the pipeline including a performance project with a technology studio in London as well as a new solo exhibition at my gallery and an art stay concept at No. 2 Boutique Art Townhouse in Lincoln.

Being Camden Fringe, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this?

Oh, that was very tricky with this work. Initially, the show had a huge painted paper runway connecting the projections on the screen with the canvas where the painting would take place. I had to get rid of it, sadly, to save on prep time. Apart from that, I decided to be smart and expand my prep team. I now have two helpers, my husband and my best friend, to help me set everything up quickly. The hoop will already be rigged in advance, so during the prep time, we will just drop it from the gantry. It is the canvas that will have to be placed under the hoop that will take most time to prep, along with my body warm up 🙂

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Many thanks Kamila for taking the time to chat. Kamila would like you to connect with them on Instagram to see what comes next.

You can catch The Circle of Everything when it plays at The Cockpit Theatre on the 18th August. Further information and tickets available here.