by Nigel Tradewell
As part of my ongoing project to capture images of ‘Weird England’ I have researched many of the often little known and esoteric rituals that take place across the country; from the PadstoweObby Oss to the Knaresborough bed race. These traditions are often unseen & overlooked. The Clown Service is a perfect example of these unsung traditions that happen under our noses.
Taking place at Holy Trinity church in Dalston, East London, on the first Sunday in February each year, the service brings together entertainers from across the world to attend the Joseph Grimaldi memorial service.
A church full of clowns is a photographic opportunity just too good to miss. The real magic, though, takes place outside on the street, where impromptu performances from mime to unicyling take place. For a street photographer like myself, who is used to snatching images of people on the move, it was a unique pleasure to be in an environment where people want to exhibit themselves for the camera.
For me there is something resonant about seeing a clown out of his or her traditional context and these were the images I enjoyed the most. I hope you do too.
On the theme of INCOGNITO, Spring 2012