An American who has lived in South Africa for the past thirty years, Ballen began his career as a geologist. He is now one of the most important and influential photographic artists of the 21st century. Renowned for his striking extremely visceral black and white photographs, he has a style he himself describes as ‘documentary fiction’, blending stark reality and set design. In this film Ballen appears to take us on a journey deep inside the Earth’s core to explore of the shadow side of the mind and the underbelly of life itself. We meander through his work as he points out the essence of a good picture and how it can lodge itself deep within the psyche. What is there, what is really real? The film is an interview of the artist interlocked with projection mapped imagery showcasing his work.
A Good Picture Comes From Nowhere
Roger Ballen
January 3, 2018
