Paul Graham from the series 'A Shimmer of Possibility'Deutsche Borse Photography Prize - The Photographers Gallery
The Deutsche Borse Photography Prize opened this week. The four shortlisted artists are: Paul Graham nominated for his publication, A Shimmer of Possibility; Emily Jacir nominated for her installation, Material for a Film, presented at the 2007 Venice Biennale; Tod Papageorge nominated for the exhibition Passing Through Eden - Photographs of Central Park at Michael Hoppen Gallery; and Taryn Simon nominated for her exhibition An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar at The Photographers' Gallery.
So who is going to win? My money is on Papageorge, however, my personal favourite is Paul Graham. His work comprises images from his volume of books entitled Shimmer of Possibility. The hanging mirrors the layout of the book and so the frames vary in size and shape. You draw near and then stand back as you pass around his exhibition space. He describes his work as 'filmic haikus' - ad hoc characters captured in rivulets of time. He also extends the concept of Cartier Bresson's 'Decisive Moment". The moments before and after are just as valuable and this is what he tries to convey. The images slide into each other capturing moments of nothingness, ordinariness and moments to be forgotten.
Taryn Simon, on the other hand, was the person I was most expecting to be my overall winner, given that her show at the Photographers Gallery last year blew me away. Her subject matter is fascinating and the access she gained to these unusual places is what make her images so memorable and riveting. However, her work rests on the extraordinary subject matter whereas Graham's images stand for themselves they create a dialogue of their own and it is this that speaks to me.
Emily Jacir I just don't get. It is not photography exactly but rather an archival record of one man, a Palestinian Intellectual murdered by Mossad. Papageorge's black and white photographs from Passing Through Eden were shot in Central Park in the 60's through to the 90's. They capture a playful setting that belies the Central Park's true character. The gestures and poses of the individuals caught by his voyeuristic lens are wonderful.
I wonder what the judges will decide? The winner is announced on 25 March so watch this space ...
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Right about Taryn Simon. Its simple: she thinks that if you take a photograph of something interesting, you have an interesting photograph. Not true.
ReplyDeleteher work will be liked by the public as it has that 'ooh' quality, but get over that and it doesn't add up to much. Good production, well executed, but really its an editorial assignment on steroids
Graham or Papageorge should get it.