Founded in 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Eiger Foundation is dedicated to promoting photography as a significant art form in Africa and around the world through a range of initiatives including exhibitions, educational programs, cultural exchanges, as well as awards and scholarships.
Each year, the foundation awards The Eiger African Photobook of the Year Award to a photographer either from Africa or working in Africa. This 2024 edition of the award was conceived in close collaboration with the Inside Out Centre for The Arts based in Johannesburg South Africa, founded in 2023 by artist and photographer Roger Ballen, with whom the Eiger Foundation recently partnered to strengthen its mission. The Eye of Photography interviewed Roger Ballen to learn more about this collaboration and their shared vision of the photobook as a powerful medium.
Could you tell us about the Inside Out Centre for the Arts and its genesis?
The Inside Out Centre for the Arts promotes art and photography related to the African continent through exhibitions and educational programs. Our aim is to provide a powerful multimedia experience, incorporating photography, video, installations, drawing, and painting. The Centre opened to the public in mid-2022. I named it the “Inside Out Centre” because it carries a psychological emphasis. Much like my own photography, the Centre seeks to bring material from the deeper recesses of our unconscious mind to the surface, encouraging visitors to engage with and explore those hidden thoughts and feelings.
I initially founded the Roger Ballen Foundation in 2007 with a focus on advancing education in photography in South Africa. Through the Foundation, we sponsored exhibitions in Johannesburg featuring renowned international artists and organized guest lectures for students. However, I eventually realized that the Foundation needed a permanent home where exhibitions and programs could run on an ongoing basis.
In January 2018, I purchased a property that I believed was ideally located in Johannesburg. At first, I was unsure whether to use it solely as an office and a place to create my own photographs or to establish a full-fledged exhibition venue. After thoughtful discussions with the architect, Joe Van Rooyen, we decided the building should not only house my office but also serve as a public exhibition space. We chose concrete as the primary material for the building, as it reflects many visual elements present in my own photographs. We also ensured that the space could accommodate various forms of media beyond photography, allowing for a more diverse range of artistic expression. Construction started in 2019.
How did the collaboration with The Eiger Foundation come about ?
The collaboration with The Eiger Foundation grew out of our shared vision and goals for advancing the art of photography. Both the Roger Ballen Foundation and The Eiger Foundation are dedicated to promoting public awareness of photography as an important and influential art form. Our work focuses on fostering a deeper understanding of the aesthetics and significance of photography, supporting both aspiring and established photographers, and building a collection of photographic works.
In addition to these shared values, the collaboration naturally evolved through our mutual interest in offering educational programs. The Eiger Foundation, like ours, aims to meet the needs of education by creating opportunities for learning, teaching, and training in photography. By working together, we hope to develop initiatives that support photography curricula in educational institutions, furthering the impact of photography as an essential tool for artistic expression and cultural understanding.
This partnership allows us to combine resources and expertise, ensuring that our collective efforts in promoting and preserving the art of photography reach a broader audience and have a lasting impact
Why do you think the book format is so important for photography ?
The book format is essential for photography because it offers a more intimate and immersive experience, allowing images to be curated and sequenced to create a cohesive narrative or evoke specific emotions. Unlike a gallery or screen, where photographs often stand alone, a book provides a tactile, multi-sensory interaction where the physicality of turning pages and the layout contribute to the overall experience. For me, as someone who values the connection between form and content, a book allows for complete control over how the images are presented, transforming it into an artwork in its own right. It also democratizes photography, giving people the opportunity to engage with and own works they may not encounter in a gallery, providing an accessible and lasting way to experience photography.
Do you personally favor it as a photographer ?
I do really value photographic publications. Having published over 20 books, I’ve always favored the book format as a photographer. My journey with books began in 1979 when I published my first book, Boyhood.
For me, the book format allows for a more profound and controlled expression of my work. It offers the opportunity to carefully sequence images, creating a visual narrative that unfolds with each page. The experience of a book is deeply personal and immersive—viewers can take the time to engage with the images on their own terms. The physicality of a book, from the choice of paper to the design, adds another dimension to the work, making it a lasting and accessible form of art. Unlike exhibitions, which are temporary, books endure over time, reaching audiences across the world and allowing my photographs to exist in a form that can be revisited again and again.
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