Who should win this year’s Deutsche Borse Photography Prize, and why?
28 Comments »Sophie Ristelhueber has won the 2010 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize for her photographic work that often confounds traditional genres. But who would you vote for? Do you agree with the jury or should it have been Anna Fox with her compelling studies of the mundane and bizarre in British life, including her own? Or perhaps Zoe Leonard whose work is, in part, a commentary on photography itself? Or should Donovan Wylie, with his systematic documentation of the psychology and physical structure of the eponymous Maze Prison, have been awarded the prize? The jury made their decision on 17 March 2010. What’s your opinion?
I took a vote with my 6th formers on a visit today – it was an even split between Zoe Leonard and Anna Fox, though the other two also got some votes! Congratulations on a great shortlist!!
Ristelhueber – no competition. Although it’s hard to tell from the small selection of her work at the photogrpahers gallery, her consistent approach over the years shows a thorough commitment to our social and political world that, with few exceptions, is unparalleled in art or photography.
Just saw the show today & my money is on Zoe Leonard. She’s picking up from where Walker Evans left off sixty-odd years ago… a superb record of our changing times…
I don’t mind, four excellent photographers, I’m just delighted to see that solid, rational, informed experience is winning out over youthful bravado. I was delighted to see photographers represented who were born within a decade of me!
I agree – its refreshing to see this work which is mature, considered and beautifully executed!
My GCSE group voted on a visit today and there was a slight favour toward Donovan Wylie – particularly due to how he is showing two very different styles of presentation.
Donovan Wylie should win because the photographs convey Northern Ireland struggles poignantly and it shows the bleak nature of the area to live in. Also the Deconstruction of the Maze Prison is captured beautifully – all that metal – cold, heartless and abandoned.
Our group vote had Zoe Leonard nudging just ahead of Anna Fox.
Zoe Leonard is leader of this pack !
For me, it have to be the works of Sophie Ristelhueber, cause they’re quite unique and innovative, and has changed our perception of the so-called landscape photography and war photography forever. The show last year at the Jeu De Paume of Paris was a rightly deserved and unfairly overdue tribute to this great photographic artist in our times. The works of other three photographers are all very interesting, but just not that unique in their own right. You kinda have a “I have seen that” feeling in your mind when seeing their works. The greatst work of Anna Fox is her photographs on the British white-collar working class. The ones now showing are unfortunately under the creative, kitche shadow of other great photographers, such as Martin Parr.
I would have to go with Wylie’s work. All were great but Wylie gets it for me. The Maze prison was once a stronghold for political reformation, human rights, violence and above all, purpose built to hold those linked to terrorism. Wylie was able to portray this once vibrant epicenter as lifeless, mundane, and exposed the building as a monotonous structure, whose character had abandoned it once its purpose was served.
Tough choice – Wylie or Leornard would be my short short list; And have to, just, go with Wylie due to the personal significance of the work as it enabled him to find his voice.
As a UCA student I guess I should be going with the Anna’s Fox work, but more to my liking is Magnums Donovan Wylie, its got magnum stamped all over it, brilliant!
My Photography arts award group voted last week, and it was top votes (staff included) for Donovan Wylie.
For me it’s got to be Anna Fox, her work is brilliant. Subtle and intricate yet powerful, playful but not satirical… A real breath of fresh air.
As a whole, I believe Anna has been hugely underrated. Her contribution to the world of photography over the past 40 years has been massive, and she deserves such recognition.
For me, it’s Donovan Wylie. His subject is worth the effort, whereas the others smack too much of images as merchandise.
Much of the work is pretty predictable. I have a liking for the formal and admire what Donovan has done but, in the end think that Ristelhueber should get it for the references and challenges she makes to art/ photographic history. She is by far and away the most challenging artist in the show. But then, what do I know?
I think the prize should go to Ristelheuber as he work is so poignant for this year. However I think Donovans piece is equally relevant to today. The other two are much of a muchness.
It has to be Anna Fox. I agree with all of the points made in the anonymous comment four posts up. Very well put, she’s greatly underrated.
I have, in the past, not been an enormous fan of Donovan Wylie’s. However, I had my preconceptions blown to bits when I went to see the work today. Perhaps my tastes have changed in the past year, but he really deserves to take it, for such a brilliantly executed, focussed body of work.
“The Photographers’ Gallery’s annual prize (…) rewards a living photographer (…) who has made the most significant contribution to photography in Europe, between 1 October 2008 and 30 September 2009.”
The date criteria seems to rule three of them out from the start.
Kieran, I think the dates criteria refer to when the exhibition nominated was first displayed, rather than when the work itself was created…
Sophie Ristelhueber’s work shows trauma as a landscape memory which will in time probably be healed unlike the physical scars of war on humans, yet her photographs are deeply moving and she is my winner.
I would have liked to have formed my own opinion of what reads like an interesting show, but the complete LACK OF ACCESS to the upstairs spaces has blocked my chance of viewing this and prior shows.
I am unable manage flights of stairs but my critical faculties and curiosity are still alert.
I am astonished that a new publicly funded space and sponsored exhibition can seemingly casually set access aside as something to be resolved in the future.
I invite aspiring potential future Deutche Burse Prize applicants to do a photoshoot of me (or others) champing at the bit on the ground floor – there’s a chance adding to the “compelling studies of the mundane and bizarre in British life” by highlighting the frustrated souls in a new government-sponsored public space that opens with disabled access as a future ambition and delivers a major exhibition in an exclusion zone.
It’s just not good enough.
A word to funders; Inclusivity and outreach become bitter soundbites if the Gallery you sponsor is so noncholant about saying “yes, later, it’s in our plans.” Damn it it is 2010, it’s a new venue, and I’ve missed another show I wanted to see.
Photographers’ Gallery you should hang your heads in shame; funders and sponsors, where are your heads at?
By-the-way, I reckon that Sophie Ristelhueber was the best choice in a good field, but how am I to know?
Dear Shane
Thank you for your feedback on our Forum.
I want to express my sincere apologies for your experience at The Photographers’ Gallery. We moved to the current building in Ramillies Street as a temporary measure with the aim of redeveloping this site. Although basic alterations were made, the building’s current structure prevented us from installing a passenger lift.
This has been a source of major frustration as it has meant that we are not accessible. It was a difficult decision to move here under those circumstances. We only did so on the basis that it was a temporary home and it would allow us to create a world class photography gallery for London. We will begin a redevelopment of our building at the end of this year.
Yours sincerely
Brett Rogers
Director, The Photographers’ Gallery
Definitely Zoe Leonard – the work is a moving record of our current time, soon to be past…
I think Anna Fox is a good candidate.
I found both Sophie’s and Donovan’s work to be the most exciting.