Exhibitions
Roger Ballen. The Other Side. Film and Photo Works
Exhibition by Roger Ballen, curated by Andrés Hispano and Fèlix Pérez-Hita
TERRASSA
Sala Muncunill
Plaça de Didó,
From November 14, to December 29
Schedule
From Tuesday to Friday: from 4pm to 8pmSaturdays from 11am to 2pm, and 4pm to 8pmSundays from 11am to 2pm
The South African artist ROGER BALLEN, known for his visual work for the group DIE ANTWOORD, presents an extensive exhibition of his audiovisual and photographic work at the Sala Muncunill in Terrassa as part of the Panoràmic Festival.
This exhibition presents their powerful work based on their videos and films, around which photographic work representing their main themes and subjects of interest, always located on the other side of the visible, common, obvious or transparent, is brought together.
Roger Ballen
Roger Ballen (New York, 1950) was born in New York, but for nearly 40 years he has lived and worked in South Africa. He is considered one of the most influential and important photographic artists of the 21st century. His strange and extreme works confront the viewer and challenge them to come with him on a journey into their own minds as he explores the deeper recesses of his own.
As a photographer and artist, his work goes beyond conventional photography; it seeks to explore the depths of the human psyche. The spaces he photographs represent the conflictual relationship between civilisation and nature, where opposites attract and break apart in a world built not on logic, but on irrationality. Delirium, mirage, dreams, and nightmares coexist, defying categorisation as either light or dark.
Ballen’s photography, often stark and primarily in black-and-white, delves into the surreal, blending elements that transcend simple definitions. He began as a documentary photographer, and over the past few decades, a distinctive and complex vision has evolved. This style is commonly referred to as the ‘Ballenesque’. His aesthetic integrates photography, film, installation, theatre, sculpture, painting, and drawing.
Through art, he aims to challenge the viewer: to confront the repressed and unresolved, and to interrogate what can be seen as real or unreal. He expects to evoke introspection and foster greater self-knowledge.
Andrés Hispano
Andrés Hispano (Barcelona, 1964). He exhibits, writes and works around visual culture.
He is a professor at the LCI School of Design, Barcelona.
He directed the programme Boing Boing Buddha on BTV, and co-directed the programmes Baja Fidelidad (XTVL) and Soy Cámara (CCCB/TVE).
He collaborated in the Cultura/s supplement of La Vanguardia (2002/2014) of which he was a member of the advisory committee. He wrote David Lynch, Claroscuro americano (Glénat, 1998).
He curatedThat’s Not Entertainment! andPantalla Global (CCCB), El Rei de la casa (Virreina) iandErwin Wurm, One Minute Forever (Roca Umbert) among other exhibitions.
Fèlix Pérez-Hita
Fèlix Pérez-Hita (Barcelona, 1967) is a director, screenwriter, video editor and exhibition curator. Graduated in Art History from the University of Barcelona, he directed, with Andrés Hispano and Ingrid Guardiola, Soy Cámara, the CCCB’s programme, TVE2/Vimeo (2010-2021).
Since 2012, he has directed the project with Arturo Bastón Hilomental: sessions videològiques. He is an advisory member of the Panoràmic Festival.
He worked as a director, screenwriter and editor at Boing Boing Buddha (BTV) from 1999 to 2004 and in twenty theme nights about culture for BarcelonaTV. Founding member of Horitzó.tv (La Capella, Bcn, 2009), TvalatawithNeokinok (educational project with young
people from the neighbourhood of Alagados, Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, 2007) andGabinet de crisi (2001-2008), with Arturo Bastón and Kikol Grau.
He has taught history and theory of the image at several universities and art centers: Elisava, University School of Design (Barcelona, 2017-2023); University of Girona (2019-2020); UPF – IDEC Postgraduate in audiovisual editing (2013, 2014 and 2015); Institute of Humanities
(CCCB Seminars).
He has collaborated in masters and seminars in: ESCAC (Barcelona), ECAM (Madrid), ERAM (Girona), Bau (Barcelona), University of Lleida, BccN, MUSAC (León), Márgenes (Madrid), Cine por Venir (IVAM), Territorios y Fronteras (Bilbao), Cultura y ciudadanía (San Sebastián, 2022), etc.
He has written for Archipiélago, Mania (UB), Cultura/s (La Vanguardia) and El Estado Mental, among other publications
