Roger Ballen presents his gloomy and sinister project ‘Asylum of the Birds’ at Christophe Guye in Zurich. GoSee attended the book signing and the photographer says hello to all GoSee readers and presents a selection of his work

We already reported on Roger Ballen’s current project 'Asylum of the Birds' here on GoSee. But we couldn’t pass up the chance to finally meet the master of the absurd in person. After arriving from an exhibition marathon from South America, the Johannesburg based artist took a pit stop at Christophe Guye in Zurich. Besides large-scale photographs, Roger also presents his first sculpture in an exhibition setting. He tells us that this doesn’t make transport logistics any easier, but we can still look forward to more sculptural work by the artist, alongside his black and white photographs of course.

He also brought the eponymous book, published by Thames & Hudson. We treated ourselves to a signed copy, as the bound and award-winning predecessors are almost sold out already. The gallery also shows the film project by Roger Ballen, which he produced in collaboration with director Ben Crossman. The gloomy pictures between still life and portrait are laced with graffiti, drawings, animals and all kinds of found objects.

The pictures and backstage video were taken in a temporary house on the outskirts of Johannesburg. This house is inhabited by various people who live on the margins of society. In this anarchic place the human and animal inhabitants work together as Ballen’s casts in an ongoing series of quasi-directed performances - as the gallery puts it so accurately.

Roger Ballen says: ‘my purpose in taking photographs over the past forty years has ultimately been about defining myself. It has been fundamentally a psychological and existential journey.’ And he even reveals where his journey will take him next, in our short making-of video….

Roger Ballen - Asylum of the Birds / 21 August 2014 - 10 October 2014
Christophe Guye Galerie / Dufourstrasse 31, 8008 Zurich, www.christopheguye.com

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

  Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

René Groebli & Christophe Guye

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

 

Roger Ballen 'Asylum of the Birds'

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