This series was created for the traveling exhibition The Clown Spirit, curated by Joanna De Vos, in which each artist was invited to create a self-portrait as a clown. Arnaud Maere’s contribution debuted at 21 Gallery in Treviso, Italy, with the next stop in Athens, Greece, and further presentations to follow. The exhibition brings together an inspiring selection of internationally acclaimed artists including Jan Fabre, Kris Martin, Marina Abramović, Sofie Muller, Wim Delvoye, Hans Op de Beeck, Michael Fliri and many others. Several of these artists have been longstanding sources of inspiration in Maere’s artistic journey.

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In this conceptual self portrait series, Arnaud Maere reflects on the universal and personal nature of the clown. The work consists of a cutout of the artist’s head, meticulously crafted from red and white wooden planks, a nod to the aesthetics of early circus tents and carnivals where the clown’s performance first captivated audiences. This material choice ties to the artist’s practice of embedding cultural and historical references into their work, linking the past to the present.

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Behind the cutout sits a mirror, sourced from Italy as a subtle homage to the exhibition's location. A red dot, representing the clown’s iconic nose, is strategically placed, transforming the viewer into the clown upon engagement with the piece. The interactive nature of the mirror aligns with the artist’s philosophy of creating layered works that demand the audience’s reflection and self awareness.

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Beneath the cutout, a brass nameplate evocative of those used for Old Masters’ works features not the artist’s name but 11 distinct variations of expressions of laughter from around the world. From the commonly used "haha" to the Russian "xaxa" or the online version "LOL," these variations underline both the universality and diversity of humor, a theme central to the clown’s timeless role. By connecting humor to cultural and linguistic differences, the piece bridges shared humanity with the nuances that define us.

 

The number 11, a signature element in the artist’s practice, subtly introduces variation while anchoring the work within their broader oeuvre. Each of the 11 pieces in the series features a unique variation of laughter, reinforcing the conceptual depth while maintaining the artist’s disciplined approach to series production.

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Through the title You and I as Clowns, the work draws attention to the viewer’s dual role as the observer and as the subject. The mirror implicates the clown’s role as a mirror to society where humor is used as a tool for reflecting on deeper subjects.