LONDON.- Prix Pictet, the world’s leading prize for photography and sustainability, today launches a virtual exhibition featuring 12 leading photographers from 8 nations shortlisted for Prix Pictet ‘Hope’.

Designed by the young digital artist Gabriel Stones using gaming technology, the exhibition is a recreation of the exhibition that took place at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum between 14 November and 8 December 2019. The fully interactive experience allows viewers to navigate freely in a new 3D rendering of the V&A’s Porter Gallery and zoom into high-resolution photographs accompanied by artist interviews.

The photographers on show are:




Shahidul Alam, born 1955 Bangladesh, based in Dhaka • Joana Choumali, born 1974 Côte d’Ivoire, based in Abidjan • Margaret Courtny-Clarke, born 1949 Namibia, based in Swakopmund • Rena Effendi, born 1977 Azerbaijan, based in Istanbul • Lucas Foglia, born 1983 USA, based in San Francisco • Janelle Lynch, born 1969 USA, based in New York • Ross McDonnell, born 1979 Ireland, based in New York • Gideon Mendel, born 1959 South Africa, based in London • Ivor Prickett, born 1983 Ireland, based in Europe and the Middle East • Robin Rhode, born 1976 South Africa, based in Berlin • Awoiska van der Molen, born 1972 Netherlands, based in Amsterdam • Alexia Webster, born 1979 South Africa, based in New York

Stephen Barber, Chair of Prix Pictet, said, “We are keenly aware that many around the world have not been able to see these works in person because of the Covid-19 epidemic. We are delighted therefore to be able to share this virtual exhibition and to give everyone, wherever they may be, the chance to experience the V&A ‘Hope’ exhibition exactly as it was first shown. We are pleased also to have been able to commission a talented young video artist to show what can be done with the latest technology.”

As museums worldwide gradually re-open post the COVID-19 crisis, in the second half of 2020 the exhibition will restart its world tour, travelling to École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) ArtLab, the International Center of Photography in New York and the Gallery of Photography in Dublin.

The Prix Pictet was founded by the Pictet Group in 2008. Today the award is recognised as the world’s leading prize for photography. On an approximately 18-month cycle each theme aims to provoke discussion and debate on issues of sustainability. The prize of 100,000 Swiss francs (£85,000) is awarded for a body of work that addresses most powerfully the theme of the award. The winner of the current cycle, under the theme ‘Hope’, was Joana Choumali from Côte d’Ivoire. Her winning series Ça va aller (It will be okay) was taken three weeks after the terrorist attacks in Grand Bassam on Sunday 13th March, 2016.

The distinguished international jury for the Prix Pictet ‘Hope’ were: Sir David King, Affiliate Partner, SYSTEMIQ Limited and Senior Strategy Advisor to the President of Rwanda (Chair of the Jury); Martin Barnes, Senior Curator, Photographs, Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Richard Mosse, winner of the seventh Prix Pictet, Space; Philippe Bertherat, Member of the International Council of Sotheby’s; Jan Dalley, Arts Editor, Financial Times; Herminia Ibarra, Charles Handy Professor of Organisational Behaviour, London Business School; Jeff Rosenheim, Curator in Charge, Photographs, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Kazuyo Sejima, Co-Founder, SANAA, and Pritzker Prize-winning architect.