ROGER
BALLEN:
Like most great
artist-photographers Roger Ballen’s work is hard to define.
Drawn from the documentary genre, Ballen has developed an
approach all of his own. His photographs are complex tableaux
of surreal and disturbing visions that attempt to reflect his
own psyche, which he regards as revealing his existential
journey in life. Focussing on the interactions between people,
animals and objects that inhabit rooms - rooms that are
typically squalid - Ballen stages unsettling scenarios that
chafe on our subconscious.
Born in New York in
1950, Ballen has lived in Johannesburg, South Africa since the
1970’s. His work has been exhibited in many important
institutions throughout the world and is housed in numerous
museum collections including Victoria and Albert Museum in
London, Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre George
Pompidou in Paris. Ballen is represented by the Gagosian
Gallery, Stills Gallery and Gallery Xavier Hufkens S.A. His
books have received critical acclaim such as Platteland:
Images from Rural South
Africa (1994), Outland (2001), Shadow
Chamber (2005) and his latest series Boarding
House (2009).
PRACTICAL
INFORMATION:
The cost of the
workshop will be £1250 for 5 days. Once participants have been
selected they will be expected to pay a non-refundable deposit
of £500 within two weeks. Participants can then pay the rest
of the fee according to deadlines (see below). Participants
are encouraged to arrive the day before the workshop begins
for a welcome dinner. The price includes:
- tuition from
Roger Ballen (including defining each participant’s project;
shooting; editing sessions; creating a coherent body of work;
creation of a slide show; projection of the images of the
participants.)
- a welcome and
farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant
- lunch everyday
and snacks during the afternoon at the riad, prepared by the 3
in house chefs
- 24 hour help from
the 1000 Words team and an assistant/translator with local
knowledge.
Participants will
be expected to make their own travel arrangements and find
accommodation, which in Fez can range from £150 upwards for
the week. We can advise on finding the accommodation that best
suits you. Remember that most of your time will be spent
either at the riad or shooting. For photographers using colour
film we will provide the means for processing and a scanner.
Photographers shooting digital will be expected to bring all
necessary equipment. Please note that for the purposes and
practicalities of a workshop, digital really is advisable. All
participants should also bring a laptop if they have one.
Every effort will be made to accommodate individual technical
needs.
TESTIMONIALS:
“I have had the
most profoundly moving, fascinating, difficult, wonderful week
of my life. Thank you 1000 Words. Words can not describe.”
Laura
“The workshop in
Fez has been a fantastic and motivational experience that I
will carry with me my whole
life.”Andy
“The choice of city
(Fez) to develop such an educational and inspirational
workshop is amazing, since the immersion begins as soon as you
arrive. You are induced to leave your comfort zone and search
for new references and perspectives, and given that the
culture and language are so unique they also become great
ingredients in this creative quest.”
Alan
“My once beautiful
but safely intimate portraiture became more real for me,
evoking not only the fear of letting myself leap in a strange
place but in the process of doing so, being able to see so
much more in others.
The workshop venue
was such a treat and incredible place to be able to go to
every day. A sanctuary to rest and to edit and collect your
thoughts. The food was more than I had expected and in fact
pretty much the best food I ate in Morocco in my three weeks
travel. The 1000 Words team were so on top of the workshop;
they were there managing every detail from accommodations,
food, coordinating the class meetings, running film to labs,
scanning, and even just being sweet and kind pals to talk with
about your day or have a beer with and brainstorm about your
project.” Katie
HOW TO
SUBMIT:
1000 Words requires
that you send 10 images as low res jpegs and/or a link to your
website, as well as a short biography and statement about why
you think it will be relevant for you to work with Roger
(approx. 200 words total). Submissions are to be sent to workshops@1000wordsmag.com with the following
subject header: SUBMISSION FOR 1000 WORDS WORKSHOP WITH ROGER
BALLEN.
01 March 2012:
Deadline for applications
05 March 2012:
Successful candidates contacted
12 March 2012:
Deposit due (£500)
09 April 2012:
Second installment due (£750)
04 May 2012: Arrive
in Morocco for welcoming dinner
05 May 2012:
Workshop begins
09 May 2012:
Workshop ends
