Not political, but ‘psychological’ – Roger Ballen launches his latest book and exhibition, The House Project
By Lungile Sojini
Photographer Roger Ballen launched his new photobook and exhibition The House Project at Gallery MOMO in Parktown, Johannesburg recently.
The book draws on the psychological works of Carl Gustav Jung, the man credited with founding Analytical Psychology, a branch of psychology that not only looks at a person’s history but their current circumstances for “future growth and development” as well.
Jung’s interest in psychology was borne out of his discovery of psychosis, a disease of the mind in which one loses contact with reality. This led him to Burgholzli hospital at the University of Zurich in Switzerland where he worked with the famed Eugen Bleuler. Bleuler is credited for coining the term “schizophrenia”.
Describing the genesis of The House Project at the launch, Ballen said: “The book started when I was with the [Italian] author, Didi [Bozzini] in Stockholm. She had written the introduction to two previous books: Asylum of the Birds and Roger Ballen’s Theater of the Absurd. So we became very friendly during my show in Stockholm. Didi came to the opening and said, ‘I have a good idea. Why don’t you and I work on a project called The House?’”
Explaining the meaning behind the title, Ballen said: “The house could be broken up into different levels, different floors. Each floor representing a place of human condition, a place of human mind.”
The best way to think of The House Project is to think of it as a musician’s compilation of his or her best songs over the years; more like Ballen’s finest works compiled in a single place.
The book is a mixture of pictures from different series, rather than a mixture of pictures “taken in one time”, Ballen explained at the launch.
In Platteland, possibly his most famous and controversial book, his trademark black and white photographs raised the ire of white folks, as his targets or focus in those photographs were marginalised and mentally unstable white people, you could say.
22 years later, Ballen took time to reminisce about those heady days, commenting on the response and backlash from the people who found his work offensive.
“At the time, they were very defensive and offended. They were very concerned about their image cause they tried to present themselves as strong and totalitarian and in charge. And I showed a group of white people, they couldn’t deal with the chaos around,” said Ballen.
“It shocked the country and became a big talking point in the world because the media had always focused on this strong militaristic government and never really dealt with [these kinds of images].”
As much as Ballen denies any of his works being political; instead explaining them as “psychological”, it’s very hard, in a country like South Africa, to dismiss their political potency.
As to whether the New York-born but Johannesburg resident artist considers himself to be a New Yorker or a Joburger, Ballen was at odds to say which is which.
“I consider myself a Homo sapien on planet earth, under the clouds and stars, walking on the ground for a short time,” the photographer said.
Lungile Sojini (@success_mail) tweeted live from the event:
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Book Details
- The House Project by Didi Bozzini, photography by Roger Ballen
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EAN: 9780957038974
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- Outland by Roger Ballen
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EAN: 9780714868844
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- Asylum of the Birds by Didi Bozzini, photography by Roger Ballen
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EAN: 9780500544297
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- Shadow Chamber by Roger Ballen
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EAN: 9780714844664
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- Roger Ballen: Die Antwoord: I Fink U Freeky by Ivor Powell, Ninja , Yolandi Vi$$er
EAN: 9783791348605
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Cats: Art, Biography, Events, International, News, Photography, South Africa
Tags: Analytical Psychology, Art, Asylum of the Birds, Biography, Book Events, Book Launches, Books LIVE, Burgholzli, Carl Gustav Jung, David Krut Publishers, Didi Bozzini, Die Antwoord, English, Eugen Bleuler, Events, Gallery MOMO, International, Ivor Powell, Jacana, Jonathan Ball, Launches, Lungile Sojini, News, Non-fiction, Outland, Photography, Roger Ballen, Shadow Chamber, South Africa, The House Project
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