Le premier numéro de SOME/THINGS magazine sortira en septembre 2009. Sur la version online, Monica Bielskyte donne une interview unique de Roger Ballen, où il nous livre quelques clefs de son univers photographique et de sa vie en Afrique du Sud.

ROGER BALLEN / I NEVER START A PHOTOGRAPH UNTIL I GET TO THE PLACE, I DON’T PLAN A PHOTOGRAPH BEFORE I GO THERE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLAN HOW THINGS WOULD COME TOGETHER, IT IS REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT THAT MOMENT WHEN THE PICTURE WORKS. SO I GO THERE & COMPOSE THE PICTURE, I WORK WITH THE PEOPLE, WORK WITH THE PLACE. IT IS AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS, SOMETIMES I TELL SOMEBODY WHAT TO DO, SOMETIMES THEY DO IT, SOMETIMES JUST AS I TELL THEM TO DO IT SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS, WE WORK IN A SMALL PLACE. NO PICTURE IS EVER THE SAME & I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE PHOTOGRAPHY NO DIFFERENT THAN PAINTING – EACH TIME WITH A PHOTOGRAPH IT IS LIKE STARTING WITH A NEW CANVAS & ULTIMATELY THE PHOTOGRAPH IS A PRODUCT OF MY OWN VISION, THE WAY I SEE & THE WAY I COMPOSE REALITY IN FRONT OF ME, LIKE DRAWING WITH LIGHT RATHER THAN DRAWING WITH A PAINTBRUSH.

TWIRLING WIRES / 2001 / SHADOW CHAMBER

CONCEALED / 2003 / BOARDING HOUSE

PUPPIES IN FISHTANKS / 2000 / SHADOW CHAMBER

www.someslashthings.com/magazine/rogerballen/