The World According to Roger Ballen centers on a distinctive visual approach that merges photography with psychological exploration, creating unsettling images that probe the inner workings of the human psyche. Ballen’s photographs often depict primal, theatrical scenes with stark contrast and unsettling compositions, generating a mood charged with tension and ambiguity.

The book, published by National Geographic Books in 2020, encompasses 208 pages that delve deeply into Ballen’s complex body of work. His use of monochromatic tones, combined with raw, sometimes chaotic subjects, reflects an interest in the subconscious, social decay, and confinement. The photobook invites viewers to confront an enigmatic world where surreal and symbolic elements intermingle.