Gabriele Tinti and Roger Ballen on Art, Death, and Collaboration
Gabriele Tinti and Roger Ballen delve into their publication "The Earth Will Come to Laugh and Feast" (powerHouse Books, New York, 2020, $50, 160 pages). They reflect on their childhood experiences, the nature of creativity, and the interplay between images and language. Tinti identifies a bloodstain from a tragic incident as his most significant early image, while Ballen reminisces about his mother's role at Magnum during the 1960s. Tinti's journey into poetry began with cemetery inscriptions, and Ballen experienced a pivotal moment in South Africa in 1983. Their partnership initiated when Tinti reached out to Ballen at a Rome exhibition. Both artists regard art and literature as deeply intertwined, highlighting themes of myth and symbolism, while acknowledging the uncertain future of image-making.
Key facts
- Gabriele Tinti and Roger Ballen collaborated on the book 'The Earth Will Come to Laugh and Feast'.
- The book was published by powerHouse Books, New York in 2020.
- The book costs $50 and has 160 pages.
- Tinti's first impactful image was a bloodstain from a fatal accident near his home.
- Ballen's mother worked at Magnum in the 1960s, exposing him to Cartier-Bresson and Erwitt.
- Tinti was influenced by cemetery epitaphs and poets Leopardi, Foscolo, and Anacreon.
- Ballen's turning point was in 1983 in Hopetown, South Africa.
- Tinti contacted Ballen during a Rome exhibition; they met for lunch.
- Tinti writes poetry to defend against death; Ballen photographs to understand himself.
- Ballen cites Ezra Pound on poetry and philosophy as intense ways to write about art.
- Tinti describes his writing as a phantasmagoria of fragments and shadows.
- Ballen says Tinti's poetry synthesizes his imagery and creates new interpretations.
- Tinti sees myth as humanity's creative force; Ballen prefers metaphor and archetype.
- Tinti views life as a fall and suffering as vital energy.
- Ballen sees fear of death as the most pervasive instinct.
- Tinti's most emotional revelations come when he is cornered.
- Ballen still gets a thrill seeing contact sheets for the first time.
- Tinti says nothing is new in image-making; Ballen says it's impossible to predict the future.
Entities
Artists
- Gabriele Tinti
- Roger Ballen
- Cartier-Bresson
- Elliot Erwitt
- Leopardi
- Foscolo
- Anacreon
- Ezra Pound
Institutions
- Magnum
- powerHouse Books
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Hopetown
- Northern Cape Province
- South Africa
- Cairo
- Cape Town
- Istanbul
- New Guinea
- New York