ROGER BALLEN
Illustrated talk and conversation with Laura Noble
Janet Hall Memorial Lecture 2012

Rudolf Steiner House Theatre
35 Park Road, London NW1 6XT (MAP)
Nearest Transport: Baker Street tube (4-minute walk);
Buses 2, 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 113, 139, 159, 274

Cost: £8 Advance; £10 at door

London Independent Photography is thrilled to present a lecture and conversation with internationally acclaimed photographer Roger Ballen for the Janet Hall Memorial Lecture 2012.

Don’t miss hearing one of the most important photographers of our time, speaking for this rare appearance!

Ballen will present his work and discuss his career in photography spanning nearly 50 years. Born in New York in 1950, he has since lived and worked in South Africa where he gained recognition photographing in documentary forms, later evolving into his now instantly-recognisable tableaus which incorporate humans, animals, drawings and sculptures. His minimalist black and white film work intends to interpret the world. He 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."

Ballen is fiercely uncompromising, his images are raw and formal with every detail of importance - often created in places he claims would give other people nightmares. He is currently working on his ninth monograph, photographing birds "in a strange, surreal and complex world".

Recently he directed the music video "I FINK YOU FREEKY' for the group Die Antwoord, which brings his surreal photography to life. The video has been massively popular, having nearly five million views on YouTube in just 6 weeks of release. Ballen will be in the UK to launch Shadow Land, a major exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery, opening 30th March. He was also interviewed for our magazine fLIP, featured in the FANTASY theme issue of Summer 2011.

Laura Noble will lead a conversation with Roger. She is the Director of Diemar/Noble Photography in London, an artist, lecturer, and author of 'The Art of Collecting Photography.'

About the Janet Hall Memorial Lecture: London Independent Photography organises an annual lecture with a renowned photographer working on independent projects. The lecture takes place each year in memory of co-founder member Janet Hall who passed away in 2005. She was our energetic, original program organiser and a driving force in establishing London Independent Photography in 1987. The sale of her photographic equipment, bestowed to the group, made the original Janet Hall lecture possible. Previous speakers have included Martin Parr, Brian Griffin and Simon Norfolk.

More about Roger Ballen at www.rogerballen.com

Shadow Land: Photographs by Roger Ballen 1983-2011, Exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery 30 Mar - 13 May 2012