Exhibition, Roger Ballen. Shadows of the Mind, inaugurated at National Art Museum of Moldova - Moldpres Culture, 26 July 2026

Doina Pozdirca

Reporter

The works of one of the most important

contemporary photographers can now be admired in Chisinau. The

exhibition, Roger Ballen. Shadows of the Mind, has been inaugurated at

the National Art Museum of Moldova. The event gives the public the

opportunity to discover the artistic universe of the South African

photographer.

Roger Ballen has a career spanning more than five decades and his

works have helped redefine contemporary photography through a unique

visual language situated at the boundary between reality, imagination

and artistic expression. His creations are included in the collections

of major museums and art institutions around the world.

“Roger Ballen is among the most important photographic artists in the

 world. He is an artist appreciated for the absolutely individual

context he creates. He constructs the image the way he feels it and

offers us his own perspective on the world. His work, in a way, stands

in opposition to traditional photography, being rooted in a different

visual poetics,” said Tudor Zbarnea, director of the National Art Museum

 of Moldova.

State Secretary of the Culture Ministry Corneliu Cirimpei praised the depth of the exhibited works.

“I believe that art is something that must awaken certain emotions. I

 am impressed by the depth of the works and the way they are made. They

approach reality in a strange manner; yet their colors and compositions

invite you to meditate,” noted Corneliu Cirimpei.

The exhibition, Roger Ballen. Shadows of the Mind, will be open to the public until September 6, 2026.

Roger Ballen is one of the most important contemporary photographic

artists. Born in 1950 in New York and settled in South Africa, he has a

career of more than five decades. Known for his unique style, the artist

 combines photography, drawing, and installation to create images that

explore the human subconscious, emotions, and the hidden facets of

reality. His works are exhibited in prestigious museums and collections

around the world.