From The Daily Star: The benefits and damages of growth

BEIRUT: Between 2009 and 2010, the photography prize, Prix Pictet – launched in 2008 – gathered works from several photographers under the theme of Earth. These works were shown in such international venues as Paris’ Passage de Retz, Switzerland’s Musee de l’Elysee and New Delhi’s Religare Arts. Britain-based photographer Nadav Kander was awarded the top prize of Prix Pictet 2009-2010 by honorary president of the Prix Pictet Kofi Annan. This year’s theme is Growth, and the shortlist of 12 artists includes Christian Als (Denmark), Stephane Couturier (France), the winner Mitch Epstein (U.S.) and Nyaba Leon Ouedracgo (Burkina Faso).

“Growth” is nowadays up at Beirut’s Ayyam Gallery, with 24 photographs by the short-listed artists on display. The show exhibits a wide range of photographs on subjects ranging from architecture to animals, and shot in locations like Kenya, Malawi, Hong Kong and the United States.

Christian Als’s black-and-white photograph “The Shadow City” – shot in Kenya – depicts a mother and her child walking by a shantytown. It conveys a heaviness from the fragile-looking houses and church to the clouds and fumes rising from the ground. The atmosphere captured by Als’ lensfeels dense and oppressive.

For more, please see this: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Art/2012/Mar-19/167088-the-benefits-and-damages-of-growth.ashx#axzz1pY2wHMjD