Growth 2012
Christian Als, Yet another child becomes a grim statistic in Kibera; diarrhoea, typhoid and dysentery are rampant, with infant mortality rates almost four times the average for Nairobi, Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya 2007.
The theme for the third cycle of the Prix Pictet was Growth. 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. Growth improves living standards and health for untold millions around the world.
From the dizzying expansion of our cities and their ever increasing dependency on scarce natural resources, to the relentless growth of populations and the need to feed ourselves, growth threatens environmental catastrophe. Growth was launched on 8 July 2010 at the Théâtre Antique, Arles, with a presentation of works by the laureates of the Prix Pictet to date – the two winners Benoit Aquin and Nadav Kander, and the two commissioned artists Ed Kashi and Munem Wasif. The Prix Pictet Growth was awarded to Mitch Epstein for his series, American Power, by Kofi Annan at the opening of the exhibition of works by the shortlisted artists at Passage de Retz, Paris on 17 March 2011. The Partners of Pictet & Cie invited Chris Jordan to undertake the third Commission, photographing the work of the Tusk Trust in Kenya.
Shortlist
Mitch Epstein, American Power, 2003-2008
Christian Als, Kibera - The Shadow City, 2007-2008
Edward Burtynsky, Oil, 1999-2009
Stéphane Couturier, Melting Point, 2005
Chris Jordan, Midway: Message from the Gyre, 2009-2010
Yeondoo Jung, Evergreen Tower, 2001
Vera Lutter, Body of Work, 1997-2006
Nyaba Leon Ouedraogo, The Hell of Copper, 2008
Taryn Simon, An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar, 2004-2007
Thomas Struth, Paradise, 1998-2006
Guy Tillim, Petros Village, 2006
Michael Wolf, Architecture of Density, 2005-2009
Jury
The jury for the Prix Pictet are a group of leading experts in the visual arts from around the world including directors of major museums and galleries as well as journalists and critics. They lead the global search for images of high artistic qcuality and narrative power and fit the theme of a particular cycle.
Professor Sir David King (Chairman)
Director, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford
Shahidul Alam
Photographer and Critic
Peter Aspden
Arts Writer, Financial Times
Michael Fried
Critic and Art Historian
Loa Haagen Pictet
Pictet Art Consultant and Curator, Pictet & Cie
Nadav Kander
Winner, Prix Pictet 2009
Christine Loh
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer,Civic Exchange (Hong Kong)
Fumio Nanjo
Director, Mori Art Museum (Tokyo)
Exhibitions and events
Growth Commission
The Prix Pictet Commission is an invitation from the Partners of the Pictet Group to one of the nominated photographers to undertake a field trip to a region where the Bank are supporting a sustainability project run by a charity or other NGO. The Partners of Pictet & Cie invited Chris Jordan to undertake the third Commission, photographing the work of the Tusk Trust in Kenya.
Chris Jordan from series Ushirikiano, Samburu Elder, Lemasulani Letarekeri, after performing healing ritual with skull of elephant killed by poachers, Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya, 2011.