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Munem Wasif, Salt Water Tears: Lives Left Behind in Satkhira, Bangladesh
Munem Wasif's commissioned work was presented for the first time at the Mall Galleries in London, from 9 -21 March 2009.
In 2008 Pictet & Cie supported the UK charity WaterAid, which manages projects in the developing world that help communities gain access to clean, safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. In addition to the CH100,000 award, the Partners of Pictet & Cie commissioned one of the shortlisted photographers – Munem Wasif – to chronicle a WaterAid project in Bangladesh. Wasif made two separate, ten-day, visits to the south-western Satkhira district to document the effects of rising salinity levels on the lives of the people in the area.
The result of this commission is a profoundly moving, yet stark documentation of the daily struggle to sustain life because of the impact of unsustainable human activities on the local environment.
The opening of the exhibition also marked the launch of Prix Pictet 2009 – Earth. A selection of images from the commission were published in Salt Water Tears: lives left behind in Satkhira, Bangladesh with words by Francis Hodgson, former Chairman of Judges and Financial Times Photography Critic, and Leo Johnson, Prix Pictet Sustainability Adviser.
More on the commission
