Roger Ballen Shared His Artistic Vision and Career at Minoa Pera
Speaking at an event held at Minoa Pera, American photographer Roger Ballen shared his career transformation and visual language with the audience.
American photographer Roger Ballen discussed his art practice and career at a special event held at Minoa Pera on Saturday, September 26. Organized by Martch Art Project, the gathering concluded with a short film screening and a talk.
Start of the Event and Screening
Titled "Ballenesque: Roger Ballen – A Retrospective" and organized by Martch Art Project, the event began with a screening of Ballen's short film "Spirits and Spaces".
Transformation of Artistic Vision
Known for his mysterious and psychological black-and-white photographs, Ballen discussed the transformation his approach to photography has undergone over the years and the original visual language he developed.
Depths of the Human Psyche
Ballen had previously expressed his art practice as an effort to go beyond traditional photography and explore the depths of the human psyche.
Uncanny and Fictional Atmospheres
Over time, the artist's work shifted toward fictional and theatrical scenes featuring puppets, body parts, drawings on walls, and chaotic markings.
Combining black-and-white photography with drawing, painting, and sculpture, the artist constructs dreamlike and uncanny atmospheres, mostly in windowless interiors.
Johannesburg and Exhibition Center
Speaking about his artistic life with an autobiographical narrative, Ballen also gave a presentation on the Inside Out Centre for the Arts, which he founded in Johannesburg in 2018.
Talk and Book Signing
Following Ballen's speech, a conversation took place with the participation of Demet Yıldız Dinçer, Head of Photography Department and Curator at Istanbul Modern.
The gathering, which drew great interest from attendees, concluded with the artist signing his books.