Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2014

Exhibition at the Photographers’ Gallery for this annual photography prize rewards a living photographer, of any nationality, for a specific body of work in an exhibition or publication which has contributed to photography in Europe.

There were four artists represented. My favourite was Richard Mosse who had done photographs of war affected areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo where he had used old military surveillance film which turned green colours pink. Hence there were pictures of mountains covered in pink foliage and soldiers in pink uniforms.

I found the work of Jochen Lempert interesting in his juxtaposition of pairs but a little dull. I liked Lorna Simpsons work using anonymous 1950s images of a man and woman with her own photos recreating the poses. Although the originals had a sense of love as they had been taken by another person whereas her, which were self portraits, seemed a little lonely.

Albert Garcia-Alix had done rather explicit and egotistical images which acted as a photo diary of his life. I liked the ones of objects and interiors such as his hand holding an old pair of moccasins more than those of him.

Review
Evening Standard

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