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Of role-playing games and psychological architecture
Of role-playing games and psychological architecture
May 24, 2016
Roger Ballen, Head inside shirt, 2001
From the series "Shadow Chamber"
Titled 'Fotografie und Film 1969–2015', the Von der Heydt Kunsthalle in Wuppertal (D) is presenting pictures and videos by Roger Ballen, from May 22 to August 7, 2016.
The New York photographer (*1950), who went to Africa as a geologist, has expanded his oeuvres over recent years with increasingly abstract works. His newer series are defined by grotesque people-animal situations in eerie rooms fitted out with a surreal and morbid symbolism: a hooded man is threatened by an over-sized ball of barbed wire, a child – twisted into a headless being – sits on the floor of a concrete room, a man in a sparsely appointed room cuddles a pig.
By dealing with the architecture of the human psyche in this manner, Ballen creates photographic settings of disturbing fascination. The diffuse analysis of body and materiality further strengthens the black and white imagery.
In addition to the photographs, the exhibition will present videos by the artist – specifically the 'I Fink U Freeky' music video by the South African band, Die Antwoord.
Further information on the Roger Ballen retrospective can be found at: www.von-der-heydt-kunsthalle.de.
The New York photographer (*1950), who went to Africa as a geologist, has expanded his oeuvres over recent years with increasingly abstract works. His newer series are defined by grotesque people-animal situations in eerie rooms fitted out with a surreal and morbid symbolism: a hooded man is threatened by an over-sized ball of barbed wire, a child – twisted into a headless being – sits on the floor of a concrete room, a man in a sparsely appointed room cuddles a pig.
By dealing with the architecture of the human psyche in this manner, Ballen creates photographic settings of disturbing fascination. The diffuse analysis of body and materiality further strengthens the black and white imagery.
In addition to the photographs, the exhibition will present videos by the artist – specifically the 'I Fink U Freeky' music video by the South African band, Die Antwoord.
Further information on the Roger Ballen retrospective can be found at: www.von-der-heydt-kunsthalle.de.
Roger Ballen, Head inside shirt, 2001
From the series "Shadow Chamber"
Roger Ballen, Brian with pet pig, 1998
From the series "Outland"
Roger Ballen, Twirling wires, 2001
From the series "Shadow Chamber"