Like a Bird

- An insider tale of Islamic countries with an oniric point of view through the circus worldGerman photographer Johanna-Maria Fritz travels all over the world photographing people and communities, especially in war zones in the Middle East. This book is the second in a poignant series on the circus in Muslim countries. She began this series over five years ago and published that work in her 2017 book, Like a Bird. Circus continues that project with images taken between 2017 and the present. Her work will be on display this summer at the annual photography festival in Arles. For Like a Bird I traveled to many Islamic countries. I was especially curious about the role of women in circus life and the environment the circus is based in - thankfully I was able to get access to the female culture in conservative societies like Iran and Afghanistan as I am myself a woman. With my work I pursue the object of overcoming prejudices and show how small communities are able to function in these conservative or conflict-ridden countries. I direct a spectator's view to different worlds: The one of the circus as well as the society surrounding it and how the social fabric of the circus influences the outside and gets influenced itself in reverse. - Johanna-Maria Fritz