Roger Ballen: Retrospective

This retrospective traces the work of American-born South African artist Roger Ballen from the 1980s onwards. In his early work, Ballen followed the tradition of documentary photography, but over time developed a distinct and unique style that he himself has termed "Ballenesque." Drawing on techniques including drawing, painting, collage and sculpture, the artist has created a new aesthetic through his multidisciplinary approach that remains deeply rooted in photography's foundations. Ballen's photographs, which also evoke the work of Walker Evans, encompass not only the formal aspects of photography such as texture, light and interaction with the subject, but also carry the intent of witnessing and exposing lives that have been marginalized during a time of social change. Similarly, the photographs of Diane Arbus and Eugene Meatyard serve as a point of departure for Ballen; although formally they may appear distant, photography's subjects and objects carry a psychological intensity. The exhibition features a selection from the artist's Dorps: Small Towns of South Africa, Platteland: Images from the South African Countryside, Foreign Land, Shadow Room, Guesthouse, Bird Sanctuary and Theatre of Ghosts series, as well as an installation titled "Ballenesque Room".