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Boarding House
Project type
Publications
Date
2009
Location
Johannesburg
“It is difficult to explain this place except that I think it exists in some way or another in most people’s mind.” – Roger Ballen
In Boarding House, Roger Ballen's photographs explore a dreamlike, transient space where people, animals, and objects intermingle in surreal tableaux. His black-and-white images blend documentary and art, creating a haunting psychological study of basic human survival and alienation. Enhanced with sculptural and drawn elements, Boarding House delves into a primitive side of the psyche, inviting viewers into a realm that defies reality. Published by Phaidon in 2009, it marks a sophisticated evolution in Ballen’s acclaimed career.
