WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2011

Centre of Contemporary Art in Torun invites You to the exhibition of the most well-known in the world photography contest – WORLD PRESS PHOTO, which will visit for the third time CoCA in Toruń! From 13 January you can watch the best press photos of 2010, identified by an independent jury from among more than 100 thousands of photos submitted from around the world!

Each year an independent international jury, consisting of nineteen members, chosen from among the pictures submitted by photojournalists, global news agencies and by the newspapers and magazines, the best photographs in nine categories. The criterion for selection of photographs is not only their aesthetic value but also its message and relevance of the questions we ask. This year work reported a record number of participants – more than 5,000 photographers from 125 countries were received from more than 100,000 images!

This most prestigious photojournalism exhibition, organized since 1955, enjoys every year an annual audience. The competition includes both single photos and series, taken in specific categories, such as Photo of the Year, Spot News, General News,  People In The News, Sport, Contemporary Issues, Daily Life, Portrait, Arts and Entertainment, Nature. Each year, the award-winning photographs are presented in the form of the exhibition, opening in spring in Amsterdam as part of the ceremony. Then begins the exposure lasted until March next year journey around the world. The high artistic level of the competition attracts not only the journalists and artists, but also people on a daily basis not related to photography.

This year the prize WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR 2011 was awarded Jodi Bieber (South Africa) –  the winning photo shows a young Afghan woman, 18-year-old Bibi Aisha subjected to domestic violence dramatically. Bibi Aisha was disfigured by the Taliban commander – was to be punishment for the escape from the house of her husband in Oruzgan in central Afghanistan. Aisha was rescued and brought to the shelter in Kabul run by the humanitarian organization Women for Afghan Women (WAW). Photography was presented to a wide audience via the TIME magazine, who chose her for the cover of the August number in 2010. Cover letter was considered to be controversial, but not mainly because of a shocking sight, but the quote under the photo: "What happens if we leave Afghanistan." Photo showing the mutilated Aisha changed the situation not only the 18-year old girl – who is currently in New York and underwent surgery for facial reconstruction – surely a further contribution to the discussion of the involvement of foreign troops in Afghanistan. The question is still valid, especially in the context of recent developments in Muslim countries.

Photo by South African photographer tells the story of not only Afghanistan, but it is also emblematic for the situation of many women around the world. Ruth Eichhorn, one of the members of the committee, said about one of the reasons for the choice: "It has a very strong message to the world. About 50 percent of population are women and so many of them still live in miserable conditions and suffering from violence. This woman is like an icon". Picture speaks for all women who experience injustice and violence, regardless of origin and place of birth.

Photo of Jodi Bieber is not the only work of constituting a contribution to the discussion and reflection on the condition of the world around us. Another appreciated work it is photographs of the earthquake in Haiti – Haiti by Daniel Morel's work took second place in the category Events. The best photo-reportage, telling of the events of last year, according to the jury are those made by Olivier Laban-Matteri and Ricardo Venturi – both presented the world what has happened in Haiti after the disaster hit them. It's been almost two years after 200 years the most powerful earthquake that struck one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere – Haiti. Approximately one million people still live in tents and in the country there is a cholera epidemic.

Among the winners, you can also see photos of two photographers from Poland – Tomasz Gudzowaty and Filip Ćwik. Gudzowaty received second award in the category Sport for coverage of rallies in Mexico, which represents an informal group of enthusiasts tuned cars and fast driving. Filip Ćwik was awarded third award awards for photojournalism in the category People In the News – a series of award-winning expressive black and white photo shows the national mourning in Poland after the presidential plane crash near Smolensk. Street portraits that make up this cycle in an unusual way reflect the atmosphere of that time. What is important is the verdict of the committee indicates that the emotions associated with traumatic plane crash are relevant to the global community.

World Press Photo is one of the most important exhibitions at the CoCA in Toruń, this shows the actual situation, tells about the reality, and its aesthetic, quiet photographic formula emphasizes the importance of displayed images. Not limited to being a reporting exposure – asks a series of questions, leaving them unanswered. We cordially invite You to hold this incredible, although a difficult journey, which will be held from January in Torun CoCA!