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The annual World Press Photo Exhibition returns to Bahrain’s Seef Mall this week as part of a tour programme taking in more than 80 cities worldwide.
Every year following a photographic contest the winning images go on show. The exhibition was officially opened in Amsterdam last week and runs until March next year.
The exhibition is a showcase for creativity in photojournalism and a platform for developments in the profession, part of World Press Photo’s aim of encouraging and stimulating the work of press photographers around the world.
World Press Photo is run as an independent, non-profit organisation with its office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where it was founded in 1955. The first prize photo was of a motor-cross competitor taking a tumble from his motorcycle. Almost every year since has seen a contest and a winning image.
Some of the photos have become iconic – a naked girl running after a napalm attack in Vietnam; a Buddhist monk who has set himself alight; a sole demonstrator standing in front of tanks on Tiananmen Square.
Others have set trends, established styles of press photography that can be seen re-emerging in years to come.
Adam Sunderland, chief executive officer of Miracle Graphics who are staging the event in Bahrain, told GulfWeekly: “The show represents a unique opportunity for the people of Bahrain to view highly-acclaimed photography from all over the globe which captures key events from 2006.
“For people who are interested in culture, art and photography, it allows them to broaden their perspective, to see how people from other countries capture moments of interest across a broad range of topics and importantly to be able to gain an appreciation both of the diverse interests and different photographic techniques of people outside of Bahrain.
“Bahrain has a history of being interested in culture and the arts and promoting cultural and artistic achievement. With its more liberal attitude than some of the other GCC and Middle Eastern countries, Bahrain is developing a perception as a centre for international culture.
“Coming on the back of the immensely popular Spring of Culture and the current Pharaohs exhibition, and not forgetting the success of the recent F1 Grand Prix, this is another way for Bahrain to demonstrate its embrace of internationalism and to position itself as an increasingly important player on the global platform.
“It is exciting because the people of Bahrain will have the opportunity to experience the exhibition first hand and to look back on 2006 through other peoples’ eyes. And it is exciting because, just as has happened in the last two years when we have successfully staged the exhibition, Bahrain is currently the only country in the GCC and the Middle East to be chosen as a venue.”
From when:
Open to the public from May 4 - 24
Where:
At Seef Mall, Seef District, Bahrain
Visiting hours:
Daily 10am to 1pm and 4 to 9pm
Thursday 10am - 1pm and 4 to 10pm
