Renowned artist confronts destruction of African wildlife in latest art show

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Africa’s wildlife, often portrayed as an integral part of the continent, draws millions of foreign travelers each year for everything from iconic large animals to their vast biodiversity.

But a new art exhibition in the heart of Johannesburg questions the relationship between humans and animals on the continent, a relationship that spans centuries and is often marked by the destruction and exploitation of African wildlife for both commercial and recreational purposes.

From killing elephants in the 18th century to feed the ivory trade to decimating the rhino population through hunting, artist and photographer Roger Ballen argues—through provocative installations and multimedia works—that humans have been at the forefront of human development for some 200 years Destruction of African wildlife faces years.

The exhibition, which opened in March this year, is entitled “End of The Game”. It examines how depictions of African wildlife, including in Hollywood films, were used to propagate stereotypes about the continent that led to the destruction of its environment.

“Most people in the West had never been to Africa, so all they knew was what they saw on the movie posters and in the films that portrayed Africa as a dark continent with wild and wild animals,” Ballen said.

Although hunting predated the arrival of European colonists on the continent, hunting took on a different form of sport with the introduction of firearms, the commercial trade in materials such as ivory and animal skins, and the beginning of “trophy hunting” of big game.

The continent’s wildlife continues to face threats today as land is cleared for development or forests are cut down for energy, displacing natural habitats. Man-made climate change is also damaging the landscape, as parts of the continent suffer from prolonged droughts and other erratic weather patterns such as hurricanes, heavy rains and dust storms.

Ballen used artifacts collected from junkyards, hunting farms, pawnshops, and roadsides on his local and international travels over the course of a career spanning more than four decades to assemble a collection of photographs, artworks, and creative installations.

“It’s about putting it together in an imaginative and creative way that still makes an impact and challenges the viewer in a variety of ways,” Ballen said.

The 73-year-old American-born photographer has lived and worked in Africa for more than 40 years and has developed a reputation for dark and abstract artwork, a consistency he seems to have maintained in this latest work.

One of the heart of the exhibition is the documentation area, which includes objects, texts, photographs and books documenting the early years of hunting expeditions in Africa.

“It gives people a kind of objectification of the time that we’re dealing with and when deforestation started in Africa,” he said. “The audience has to discover and process that.”

Another exhibition of early versions of weapons and ammunition used to kill larger animals leads into the ‘Hunter’s Room’ – a staged installation displaying archival photos and objects in a staged safari setting.

A hunter figurine made out of wax is the main character in the room, surrounded by his hunting memorabilia and collectibles.

Some of the photos include archived images of former US President Theodore Roosevelt’s much-publicized hunting expeditions in Kenya and Winston Churchill’s East Africa safari, both in the early 20th century.

A short film, shown in a curated cinema, brings together excerpts from old Western films showing African wildlife, including videos from European tourists who came to the continent to hunt trophies. Hunters are seen on film as they tower victorious over their trophies, mostly dead giraffes, elephants and rhinos.

Others show indigenous Africans defeating elephants, lions and leopards.

Trophy hunting is still legal in many countries across the continent, although it is usually regulated to ensure animal populations can be maintained.

The exhibition has continued to draw crowds to the Inside Out Center for the Arts in Johannesburg since it opened and will remain on view indefinitely, according to Ballen.

The gallery is bustling with activity on a typical Saturday morning.

“I don’t want to say it’s scary, but it’s very interesting,” said visitor Shelley Drynan. “It’s interesting to see what people think about animals and how they interact with animals, how most people are actually hypocrites when it comes to their interactions with animals.”

Sarah Wilding, another visitor who said she was familiar with Ballen’s earlier work, said she was touched by the depiction of African wildlife and its destruction over many years.

“Just being here and feeling the melancholy and the mystery,” said Wilding, “is really an amazing experience.”