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Prix Pictet

From: 'The Hell of Copper' by Nyaba Leon Ouedraogo

About two weeks ago the jury for the Prix Pictet announced their shortlist. This prize for photography related to sustainability issues is now in its third year and the theme this time round is ‘growth’. The organisers sum it up neatly on the website with one simple sentence ‘At once a blessing and a curse, growth, in all its forms, presents one of the great conundrums facing humanity in the early decades of the twenty-first century.’
There is some incredible moving photography here from photographers who already have worldwide reputations like Burtynsky and Epstein to newer names I was not previously familiar with. All of the portfolios show a dedication to exploring a theme or an idea which for me characterises great photography. Some of it, while beautiful – like Thomas Struth’s Paradise series leaves me rather cold. The work that I really like is by Nyaba Leon Ouedraogo and is called The Hell of Copper, but to my mind might equally be called ‘The Law of Unintended Consequences’, illustrating as it does how good intentions have led to horrendous outcomes.
Over at Prison Photography they compare Ouedraogo’s work with that of Pieter Hugo. It is an article worth checking out, although I don’t share PP’s preference for Hugo’s work. It is precisely the way in which Ouedraogo shows the human resilience and joy in the face of intolerable circumstances which makes it stand out for me. Further the Ouedraogo images appear to me far more interesting than the rather static poses in some of Hugo’s.


Posted by author: Genevieve Sioka

10 thoughts on “Prix Pictet

  • Very interesting, I thought I would prefer Pieter Hugo’s work and at first glance I did, but I agree some of the poses are rather static. Many of the images have a similar feeling about them as if Hugo feels the need to keep repeating the same point. With Ouedraogo’s portfolio I somehow feel I’m looking at a broader picture in fewer images.

  • OK. I will open a Pandora’s box here.
    Who wants a Burkinabé photographer to win a prestigious, Geneva-based, photography competition? Hands up, anyone? Let me rephrase this. Are we, in the West, ready for a vernacular view of Africa, that is, Africa seen by her own people?
    I think that there is too much self-interest involved in this. Against such competition, Ouedraogo has no chance. And I actually think that his images are more evocative than Hugo’s.
    Just a thought.

  • I like Ouedraogo’s images very much. I will be interested to see how the prize is decided, particularly in light of Jose’s comments. I wonder if we are ready. We’ll see.

  • I find this a strange question. It presupposes some things about the jury that I simply don’t know. If we assume the systen to be fair – and it is implicit in your question that it is not – then as it currently stands you have 11 chances in 12 of having your viewpoint validated. I’m not sure what that establishes except that it’s relatively easy to set up a false dichotomy.

  • Africa has a very vibrant photographic culture, from long established names like Malick Sidibé to a recent darling of curators, wishing to establish their credentials, Samuel Fosso.
    So I think Ouedraogo stands at least an evens chance if not better.
    But to my way of thinking, with competitions in general, it doesn’t matter who wins from a validation point of view; once you get on the short list you get the publicity, so that people who have a professional interest in photography talk about you and see your work.
    It’s a lottery who actually wins, depending on the particular judges and what the Ouija board spells out when they decide.
    Without sponsorship competitions either wouldn’t exist or would have no profile. It’s a promotional vehicle for the sponsors that someone has to win; as a beneficial side effect.

  • What a strange culture we live in that requires everything to be a competition with prizes. I can see how it promotes the sponsors but I have never been convinced that it is really good for the disciplines. I am not convinced that the best rise to the top this way…and look what it has done to our televisions!!!……society of the spectacle?

  • To me art as a competitive sport has always been a nonsense.It is however a strategy that you can employ to hopefully reposition yourself in the market/photographic culture, if that’s your desire.

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