One of the most influential and important photographic artists of the 21st century, Roger Ballen’s photographs span over forty years. His sometimes strange and extreme works confront the viewer and challenge them to come with him on a journey into their own minds as he explores the deeper recesses of his own.

Today I would like to thank Christophe Guye Galerie for the opportunity to talk with Roger Ballen on his upcoming exhibition which will present work from five different series: 'Colour Work', 'The Theatre of Apparitions', ‘Asylum of the Birds’, ‘Boarding House’ and 'Shadow Chamber' .

Born in 1950 in New York City, Roger Ballen has lived in South Africa since 1982 and is one of the most important photographers of his generation. His oeuvre, which spans five decades, began with the documentary photography field but evolved into the creation of distinctive fictionalized realms that also integrate the mediums of film, installation, theatre, sculpture, painting and drawing. Ballen describes his works as 'existential psychodramas' that touch the subconscious mind and evoke the underbelly of the human condition.

Why did you choose to explore colour photography after spending decades working with black and white?

Leica camera provided me with a digital camera in 2016 to film my Ballenesque video. Upto this time, I only was shooting with a 6cm x 6cm Rolleiflex camera using black and white film. During the filming I took a few shots in color and to my great surprise I was very enthusiastic about the results.   Consequently after working in Black and white for 50 years I have been almost photographing almost exclusively in color since then and have been very satisfied with the results. 

What are your greatest inspirations to date? 

My greatest inspiration has always been nature. Nevertheless I have always stated that one must not only be inspired by one's own work, but inspiration has to be the result of hard work, discipline, and focus.

What is one of the most interesting or memorable responses you've heard in regards to your work? 

After working for over five decades in this field it is difficult to remember all the endless responses.  Most importantly it is common to hear that my work is psychologically powerful, dark, absurd, and uncanny.

What was it about South Africa that made you want to settle there? 

In 1974 I hitched hiked from Cairo to Cape Town and in 1981 received a Ph.D. in Mineral Economics from the Colorado Scool of Mines following which I married a South African woman.  As South Africa was one of the best places to work in this field I decided to move to Johannesburg in 1982 where I have permanently lived to the present.

In terms of your goal as an artist, is it still to continue having a transformative effect for the positive on people that view your work. 

I think it is of utmost importance that my work has the uncanny ability to transform peoples state of consciousness. It would be quite distressing to me if there was little or no response. 

What would you like to say about your upcoming show A Journey Through Ballenesque?

The upcoming show at Christophe. Guye Gallery is a very interesting exhibition as it combines a number of series and approaches/styles of mine over the past two decades.  In particular vintage photographs from Shadow Chamber and Boarding House,  large pigment  prints from the Asylum of the Birds, my recent color prints and the Theatre of Apparition light boxes which I showed at the Venice Biennial in 2022.

Last question, what does wellbeing mean to you? 

I think it essentially means that one feels that during this short time on planet earth one is discovering  probing and to coming to terms in the best possible means with the enigma of life.

christopheguye.com