Inside the warped, disturbing world of Roger Ballen

Chaos over order — The iconic photographer has been crafting his own, mysterious world for five decades now – and the results are being celebrated in a new book.

When it comes to his craft, Roger Ballen is not interested in making the viewer comfortable. Quite the opposite, really – he purposefully taps into the darkest aspects of being human, creating claustrophobic black and white scenes set against chaotic, graffitied walls. His work teeters between reality and fiction, between the real-life grit of his subjects and the carefully constructed, somewhat nightmarish environments they are set in.

Photographing since the 1970s and based in South Africa, the 66-year-old has coined his own, completely unique visual style – so individual, in fact, that it was given its own name: ‘Ballenesque.’

Now, his work is being compiled in a new book published by Thames & Hudson. Going chronologically through the prolific artists’ archive, Ballenesque features over 300 images – from well-known shots (such as 1993’s “Dresie and Casie, Twins”) to never-before-seen creations.

Accompanying the book is a short film, which sees the photographer address his work. His gruff voice lists off the key elements – the animals scattered around every scene, the border between real vs unreal, the claustrophobic spaces, and his ultimate rule: chaos over order.

“I have been taking photographs for five decades. During this time, I broke through parts of my mind that I never knew existed,” he intones. “I think my photographs will take you to a world that has been for many inaccessible.”