Prix Pictet Photography Prize

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. From the dizzying expansion of our cities with their ever increasing dependency on scarce natural resources to the relentless growth of populations and the need to feed ourselves.

So growth is a paradox. Just as growth threatens to bring environmental catastrophe, so it improves the health and living standards of untold millions around the world. We now face a global crisis in land use and agriculture that could undermine the health, security, and sustainability of our civilization.

Meeting these huge new demands will be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.

The third cycle of the award 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

Christian Als - Denmark
Edward Burtynsky - Canada
Stéphane Couturier - France
Mitch Epstein - USA (Winner)
Chris Jordan - USA (Commission)
Yeondoo Jung - South Korea
Vera Lutter - Germany
Nyaba Leon Ouedrago - Burkina Faso
Taryn Simon - USA
Thomas Struth- Germany
Guy Tillim - South Africa
Michael Wolf - Germany

Exhibition

The exhibition of work by artists shortlisted for the third cycle of the Prix Pictet has toured the world since the announcement of the shorlisted artists at Galerie Filles du Calvaire in November 2011. 

Growth Book

Growth, the book of the third Prix Pictet, is published and distributed worldwide by teNeues. The book catalogues the work of the shortlisted photographers as well as outstanding images by many of the artists nominated but not shortlisted for the award. Royalties from the sale of the book will go to support the Prix Pictet Commission. Growth is available from gallery bookshops and other outlets worldwide, as well as through the teNeues online store.