Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys — Tee

Description

Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy. “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” English borrowed this one from Polish and never gave it back.

It declines responsibility without pretending the mess is not happening: the circus is real, the monkeys are genuinely loose, and neither of them is yours. There is even an extended version — ale mogę popatrzeć, but I can watch.

Drawn in the language of the Polish poster school: flat colour, unsettling composition, a big top rendered with more atmosphere than cheer.

For everyone who has been drafted into somebody else’s family argument. Read where the phrase comes from.

Two versions, one page

Choose Artwork only for the illustration on its own, or With saying to get “Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy” drawn into the composition in its original language. Same garment either way — pick your version above.

The shirt

• Bella+Canvas 3001 · 100% airlume combed and ring-spun cotton · 4.2 oz/yd² (heather shades include a small amount of polyester)
• Unisex retail fit · side-seamed · pre-shrunk · tear-away label
• Sizes S–3XL · choose your colourway above

Printed on demand, shipped worldwide

Nothing is made until you order it. Your design is printed in the fulfilment centre closest to your address — usually within 2–5 business days — and then shipped. Flat-rate shipping: $7.95 in the US, $12.95 everywhere else. Shipping & returns.

More from the same place: browse the collection by country, or read the origin of the phrase.