Biography
Joan Armengol collaborated intensively in the evolution of contemporary Catalan circus and was a decisive figure in all the areas in which he worked. Convinced that "the circus is the great metaphor of life", he practiced the motto "Of life, the theatre; and of the theatre, comedy".
His students remember his generosity, enthusiasm and the combination of technical rigor and personal respect with which he transmitted knowledge. They also remember the "clown's one, two, three" rule (the clown must work in three steps: 1. Receive. 2. Feel. 3. Explain).
After his death, the celebration of the Joan Armengol i Moliner Circus Days (October 22-24, 2004) definitively promoted the creation of the Association of Circus Professionals of Catalonia (APCC). His artistic legacy has also been reflected in the eight editions (2005-2012) of the festival "L'1, 2, 3 of clown", organized in Tiana by Can Boter and De Mortimers. In line with Joan Armengol's eclecticism, music, theatre, poetry, circus, dance, audiovisuals, plastic arts, parades and workshops in various specialties have been programmed. In 2012, the festival received the Sebastià Gasch FAD Applause for Emerging Creation for "its multifaceted will".
In July 2019, Tiana inaugurated a monument to Joan Armengol in the park that bears his name. Designed by Mario Tarragó, it consists of nine folding scissor chairs, placed vertically in threes and facing the sky.
Television, Cinema and Theatre. Co-founder of Comediants, the company with which he performed from 1971 to 1977. With Comediants, he started the weekly children's program Terra d'escudella (1976) on the TVE Catalunya and performed there in the 1976-1977 season. From 1977 to 1979 he presented the same program with Anna Maria Vidal and from 1979 to 1981 they both presented Quitxalla (1979), also on TVE Catalunya. In 1978, Joan Armengol with some members of the dissolved La Tràgica company and others from the Ziasos and S'Estornell groups founded in Tiana (Maresme) the "autonomous theater production center" Art Quic Titèric Can Boter, dedicated to parades and shows street. From 1985 they specialize in the construction of masks, giants and tadpoles. On cinema, 1981 Character in La batalla del porro (1981) of Joan Minguell and 1985 The Heifer (1985) of Luis García Berlanga. And TV Character "Christian Rivière of la Frontière" in some episodes of the TV3 series, Judes Xanguet i les Maniquins (1988).
Among other initiatives, Joan Armengol developed an animation project for the Poble Espanyol in Barcelona (1989-1990) from which the company Triplolocus arose. In 1994 he founded the poetic-musical group Toc Mut (1994-2000). He contributes to the creation of the Rogelio Rivel Circus School (1999) and teaches clown and mask classes there, an activity he combines with directing circus shows and combinations. 2002 participate Vivancos 3 (2002) of Albert Saguer.
In 2004 Sebastià Gasch received a posthumous FAD Applause as "co-founder of the Rogelio Rivel Circus School, teacher of the Ateneu Popular 9 Barris Youth Circus School and teacher of teachers".
