Prix Pictet - Space
The most recent edition of the Prix Pictet – the global photography prize – was won by the Irish artist Richard Mosse. An exhibition of his winning work, and that of 11 other leading international artists has thrilled audiences on its extensive global tour and will open in Ireland at the Gallery of Photography on November 16th (runs until 20th January 2019, admission free). The exhibition presents a unique opportunity to view artworks of outstanding quality that tackle burning global issues of our time.
The nominees featured in this exhibition are:
Mandy Barker (UK), Saskia Groneberg (DE), Beate Gütschow (DE), Rinko Kawauchi (JP), Benny Lam (HK), Richard Mosse (IE), Sohei Nishino (JP), Sergey Ponomarev (RU), Thomas Ruff (DE), Munem Wasif (BD), Pavel Wolberg (RU), and Michael Wolf (DE).
Drawing on the theme of ‘Space’, the 12 shortlisted photographers explore subjects as far-reaching as marine pollution, migration, overpopulation and the planet’s great wilderness. Work from ‘Heat Maps’, the winning series by Richard Mosse, is shown for the first time in Ireland. The Prix Pictet is unique in its commitment to harnessing the power of photography to deepen our understanding of changes taking place on a global scale. Taken together the finalists’ works present a powerful testament to the fragile state of our planet.
Idomeni, Series: Heat Maps, Richard Mosse, 2016.
Winner
Richard Mosse (b. 1980, Ireland), earned an MFA in Photography from Yale University in 2008. He lives in New York City and Ireland. Mosse’s new body of work, Heat Maps, attempts to foreground the biopolitical aspects of the refugee and migration situation now facing Europe, the Middle East and north Africa. The project maps refugee camps and other staging sites using an extreme tele military grade thermographic camera that was designed to detect and identify subjects from as far away as fifty kilometers, day or night.
““Whether they focus on our cities; on the oceans, borders and barricades; on outer space or on the humanitarian crises unfolding across Europe; each of the photographers shortlisted for this cycle of the awards address their subject with a brilliant singularity of vision.”
“Again and again they present us with visions of people carrying on against what are frequently dreadful odds.”
“Perhaps in this there is hope. Hope that, despite the catastrophic damage that we have visited on the natural world and on the lives of our most vulnerable fellow citizens, it is not too late for us to reverse the damage we have done – to allow each other the space to think again.”
“For all the havoc they portray, the artists shortlisted for Space have shone a light on this possibility. We would be foolish to ignore their messages.””
Artist’s talk: Richard Mosse, Prix Pictet Winner 2018 - ‘Heat Maps’ Presentation - at Gallery of Photography Ireland, 15th November 2018 (click through for YouTube video)
Tanya Kiang (Co-director and curator at the Gallery of Photography Ireland), Christine Sisk (Director of Culture Ireland), Richard Mosse (Prix Pictet Winner 2018), Trish Lambe (Co-director and curator at the Gallery of Photography Ireland)
Shortlist
Ophelia medustica (Pram wheel), specimen collected from Glounthaune shoreline, Cork, Ireland, 2015, Series: Beyond Drifting: Imperfectly Known Animals, Mandy Barker, 2015.
Mandy Barker (b. 1964, UK), studied MA Photography at De Montfort University, England. She has received international recognition for her work involving marine plastic debris with her ongoing series, SOUP, having been published in over 25 countries including, TIME, The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian, for Greenpeace and on CNN. The motivation for her work is to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the world’s oceans while highlighting its harmful affect on marine life and ultimately ourselves.
Foliage encroaching on blinds, Series: Büropflanze, Saskia Groneberg, 2012.
Saskia Groneberg (b. 1985, Germany), studied at the State Academy of Art and Design, Stuttgart and the State Academy of Fine Arts, Leipzig (Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig). She currently lives and works in Munich, Germany.
S#30, Series: S, 2004–2009, Beate Gütschow, 2008.
Beate Gütschow (b. 1970, Germany), studied at the University of Fine Arts, Hamburg (1993-2000) and the National Academy of the Arts, Oslo (1997). She lives and works in Berlin and Cologne.
Untitled, Series: Ametsuchi, Rinko Kawauchi, 2012.
Rinko Kawauchi (b. 1972, Japan), has participated in and hosted a multitude of group and solo exhibitions both within Japan and all over the world. She currently lives and works in Tokyo.
Trapped 08, Series: Subdivided Flats, Benny Lam, 2012.
Benny Lam (b. 1967, Hong Kong), professional Hong Kong-based photographer, graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design, Canada. He is a member of HKIPP, works for multiple local and international brands and advertising agencies.
Diorama Map Havana, Series: Diorama Map, 2010-2016, Sohei Nishino, 2016.
Sohei Nishino (b. 1982, Japan) - since he was a university student of Osaka University of Arts, Nishino started his series Diorama Map which is created from his memory as layered icons of the city.
November 16, 2015. Migrants arrive by a Turkish boat near the village of Skala, on the Greek island of Lesbos. The Turkish boat owner delivered some 150 people to the Greek coast and tried to escape back to Turkey; he was arrested in Turkish waters. Series: Europe Migration Crisis, Sergey Ponomarev, 2015.
Sergey Ponomarev (b. 1980, Russia), is a freelance photographer. Before becoming a freelancer in 2012, Ponomarev worked for the Associated Press starting in 2003.
ma.r.s.14, Series: ma.r.s, 2010–2013, Thomas Ruff, 2011.
Thomas Ruff (b. 1958, Germany), studied under Bernd Becher at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf from 1977-85. Since the late 1980s, Ruff has worked with found images of the night sky; notably his m.a.r.s. series of 2012, this work has further blurred the line between reality and fiction. Using satellite images of Mars and Saturn found on the Internet, the artist collaged, then rendered each image with 3D-effect software, before finally reproducing them as large-scale Chromogenic prints.
Land of Undefined Territory, Series: Land of Undefined Territory, Munem Wasif, 2014.
Munem Wasif (b. 1983, Bangladesh), is a Dhaka based artist who investigates complex social and political issues by getting close to people, both physically and psychologically, dealing with multiple questions and contradictions through his artistic language, which often employs stark black and white photography.
Ukranian Civilians, Series: Barricades, Pavel Wolberg, 2009-2014.
Pavel Wolberg (b. 1966, Russia), is a photographic artist and a former Photojournalist living in Tel Aviv.
Tokyo Compression 75, Series: Tokyo Compression, 2008–2011, Michael Wolf, 2011.
Michael Wolf (b. 1954, Germany) grew up in Canada, Europe and the United States, studying at UC Berkeley and at the Folkwang School with Otto Steinert in Essen, Germany. He moved to Hong Kong in 1994 where he worked for 8 years as contract photographer for Stern magazine. Since 2001, Wolf has been focusing on his own projects, many of which have been published as books. The focus of his work is life in mega cities, many of his projects document the architecture as well as the vernacular culture of metropolises.
About Prix Pictet
Launched in 2008 by Pictet, the Geneva-based wealth and asset management group, the Prix Pictet aims to uncover outstanding photography that confronts the most pressing social and environmental challenges of today.
The Prix Pictet is a prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs (approx €92,000) awarded to a living photographer who, in the opinion of the independent Jury, has produced a series of work that speaks most powerfully to the theme of the award. Photographers are nominated by an international network of photography experts, including the curators of the Gallery of Photography, who nominated Richard Mosse. He was announced as the winner in May 2017, during the opening of an exhibition of works by the shortlisted artists at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
About Gallery of Photography Ireland
The Gallery of Photography is Ireland’s leading centre for contemporary photography. It stages exhibitions with leading Irish and international photographers and nurtures emerging photographic talents. Fully serviced digital studio and traditional darkrooms are available for members to hire, and courses are offered at all skill levels. A specialist photography bookshop offers an inspiring range of new and classic photobooks.
Gallery of Photography Ireland is proudly supported by The Arts Council and Dublin City Council.
Launch event schedule: Thursday 15 November 2018
2-5pm Media preview of the Prix Pictet – SPACE exhibition.
3-5pm: Media interviews with Richard Mosse (by appointment)
5pm: Talk by Richard Mosse about the making and reception of his work, Heat Maps
5.45pm: Q&A moderated by Trish Lambe, Gallery of Photography
6pm: ‘The Castle’ book launch and signing; in association with MACK Books
6.30pm: Launch of the Prix Pictet – SPACE exhibition by Christine Sisk, Director, Culture Ireland
8pm: Outdoor projection on Meeting House Square, presenting selected works from 7 editions of Prix Pictet.
Exhibition dates
November 16th 2018 - January 20th 2019
Gallery information
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