Roger Ballen is an American photographer who lives and works in South Africa. His shocking and moving pictures of poor rural whites confound preconceptions about this troubled country and reveal some of the deeper complexities and contradictions of its tragedy. This film follows Ballen on a photographic shoot in the flat, bleak platteland of the Western Transvaal.
Catherine Bailey by David Bailey
Photographer turned film-maker David Bailey’s unique portrait of his wife includes a stunning range of images of her as model, mother and a person totally at ease with herself. It even includes footage of her in various stages of pregnancy and childbirth. The programme is narrated by novelist Fay Weldon in conversation with Catherine, who talks about issues and events which have been important to her as a woman.
Norman Forster
Norman Foster is widely considered to be one of the world’s greatest living architects, a master of Modernism, but also highly respected for his flair when converting older
buildings to present day needs. This portrait reveals not only his genius, but also his highly sensitive and artistic personality. His passion for architecture, his perfectionism and his deep concern with creating life-enhancing environments are clearly demonstrated as he is seen at work, and in the consideration of some of his major projects.
Flags of the Fante Coast
This programme travels to Ghana to explore the art and culture of the Fante people, in particular their vibrant and allegorical sacred flags. These colourful appliqued and
embroidered banners were originally used as the regalia for small military companies which existed in towns and villages along the Fante coast for hundreds of years. The companies still flourish as fraternal groups and flags continue to be made and used in the traditional way.
Christian Boltanski
This exploration of the thoughtful and provocative world of Christian Boltanski centres on an interview with the enigmatic installation artist, whose work deals explicitly in death. Born in Paris in 1944, he gives a fascinating insight into his creative impulses as he talks about his unusual Jewish-Catholic upbringing. He gives the impression that, with his own life, as well as with his art, he is constantly posing questions about the recoverability of the past, the uniqueness of identity and the reliability of evidence.
Bauhaus
The Bauhaus (1919-33) is the most famous school of architecture, design and craftsmanship of modern times. It helped establish a relationship between design and industry. ‘Bauhaus’ became synonymous with rationalised, sharp-edged, machine-based style. This programme looks at the development of the Bauhaus and at key figures involved in it, as well as setting its history in the context of the political unrest and economic chaos of the Weimar Republic.
Icons of Twentieth-Century Design
In today’s consumer society our expectations, aspirations and dreams are reflected in the products we buy, or covet. From the millions of goods that go on sale each year, certain items rise above the dictates of mere fashion – they become icons, stamped indelibly on the consciousness of our age. Made in a lively, thought-provoking and accessible way, six ten-minute programmes focus on some of the icons of twentieth-century design, analysing their conception and considering their impact: the Coca-Cola Bottle, Gerrit Rietveld’s Red and Blue Chair, the London Transport Underground Map, the Volkswagen Beetle, Tapio Wirkkala’s Composition cutlery, and the Swatch.
Jeff Koons
‘Vulgar’, ‘banal’ and ‘pornographic’, are all words that have been used to describe the work of American sculptor Jeff Koons. This master of self-publicity is best known for his kitsch novelties, and photographs and sculptures of himself in Kama Sutra positions with his ex-wife, La Cicciolina. Not since Duchamp and Warhol has any artist so dramatically polarised critical opinion and provoked such controversy. In this revealing profile, Koons is seen working on a major creation – a fourteen-metre-high puppy built entirely of fresh flowers.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Six months before the completion of his most famous landmark, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Frank Lloyd Wright died. He had struggled for seventeen years to realise his crowning architectural vision and in those six months many of his plans were mutilated. His true intentions were only realised following restoration work that took place 1990-92. In this film, leading architect Richard Rogers tells the story of the secret life of the Guggenheim.
Annie Leibovitz
Since the early 1970s, when she became chief photographer for Rolling Stone magazine, Annie Leibovitz has won acclaim for capturing images that stand as embodiments of their time. She is also renowned for persuading celebrity subjects to strike startling poses for her camera – such as the notorious Vanity Fair cover shot of a naked and pregnant Demi Moore. This programme chronicles Leibovitz’s career, showcases her work and shows her on a shoot with Demi Moore.