In his work, Roger Ballen creates a surreal universe in which humans, animals and objects are interconnected. More reminiscent of paintings than photographs, his images are a representation of the artist's inner world. For his series Asylum of the Birds (consisting of 90 pictures created between 2008 and 2013) Ballen explored and visually manifested the landscape of his own subconscious.
The interplay of details in Ballen's imagery creates an almost overwhelming experience, leaving the viewer enraptured in an intense world of black and white. Together with director Ben Crossman, Ballen has now created a six-minute film introducing the viewer to the multi-dimensional nature of his work and offering insights into Asylum of the Birds – making the film an artwork in its own right.
Born 1950 in New York, Roger Ballen studied Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He also holds a degree in Geology. In the late 1970s, Ballen emigrated to South Africa, where he still lives today. While working as a geologist in the South African Hinterlands, Ballen began to take photographs, predominantly of socially disadvantaged outcasts. His work, which has received numerous awards, has been published in over a dozen books to date and has been shown in over 50 solo exhibitions worldwide.
Warning: distressing content! Not suitable for viewers under 16.
View the video at Asylum of the Birds
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