04.08.2011
The world’s premier photojournalism exhibition will open at the Scottish Parliament for its sixth year running, from Saturday 6 August to Saturday 27 August.
Holyrood is one of only two venues in the UK, and the only Parliament worldwide, to exhibit the World Press Photo Exhibition.
The collection features breathtaking images from world events in 2010 and features the work of 54 photographers representing 23 nationalities.
Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP said: “The exhibition is always extraordinary and we are honoured to be hosting this collection once again. It is estimated over 160,000 visitors have visited this captivating exhibition since it first opened at Holyrood.
“We hold the World Press Photo exhibition in conjunction with our Festival of Politics programme each year. This is a great opportunity for visitors to the Parliament to view the exhibition as well as take part in topical debates and political discussions.”
This year’s overall contest winner is South African photo-journalist Jodi Beiber for her image of a young Afghani woman Bibi Aishi. Bibi fled her husband to escape a life of violence, only to suffer horrific disfigurement at the hands of her husband, at the order of a local Taliban commander. Bibi now lives in the United States and is undergoing reconstructive surgery.
Commenting on this year’s winning image, Jury Chair David Burnett said: “This could become one of those pictures – and we have maybe just ten in our lifetime – where if somebody says “you know, that picture of a girl…”, you know exactly which one they’re talking about.”
Other winning images include those taken in the aftermath of the Haiti and China earthquakes, anti government riots in Thailand, a Spanish Matador being wounded by a bull, a cycle tour of Eritrea, fairground people in Ireland and female wrestlers in Bolivia.
A programme of photography-themed events and discussions will take place as part of the Festival of Politics to coincide with the WPP exhibition. This includes a photographic essay on female dominated communities, the impact of social media on politics, and a session entitled Covering Conflict: the role of the photographer and artist.
The media launch for the World Press Photo at the Scottish Parliament is on Friday 5 August at noon. Please contact Isla Mair.
For information on WPP go to: http://www.worldpressphoto.org and on the Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics programme at: http://www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
Facebook : www.facebook.com/festivalofpolitics Twitter: @FestOfPol
The contact for members of the media is:
Isla Mair: 0131 348 6269
Email: isla.mair@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact:
Telephone: 0131 348 5000 / 0800 092 7500 (Public Enquiries) / 0131 348 5395 (Gàidhlig) Textphone users can contact us on 0800 092 7100. We also welcome calls using the RNID Typetalk service. Email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
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