Salt Water Tears: Bangladesh water poverty highlighted at launch of Prix Pictet 2009
Last updated 20/03/2009 14:46:33
Photo © Munem Wasif - Agence VU. Courtesy Prix Pictet
Munem Wasif’s revealing images of the scarcity of clean, safe water on the people of Bangladesh is headlining the launch of Prix Pictet 2009.
His collection of works, ‘Salt water Tears: Lives left behind in Satkhira, Bangladesh’, will be displayed to public until 21st March at the Mall Galleries in London.
Wasif is the Prix Pictet Commission Winner 2008 and was one of 18 leading international photographers shortlisted for the competition last year.
The documentary photographer was selected and commissioned to document an area of Bangladesh affected by severe water issues.
This is the second year of the world’s first annual photography award which focuses on sustainability. It is supported by Pictet & Cie.
In conjunction with last year’s Prize theme, ‘water’, Pictet & Cie collaborated with UK charity WaterAid, which manages projects in the developing world that help communities gain access to clean, safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.
The Swiss private bank has been very proactive in supporting and raising awareness on sustainable issues through its cultural programmes.
“The concept is to combine aid and photographic commission, which will raise its profile within the financial environment to raise fund towards the cause,” Loaa Haagen Pictet, art historian and curator of the Pictet & Cie collection of Swiss art, explained to The Optimist.
“Images like these are sometimes tough to see, but they also provide evidence for us to do something about the situation,” said Pictet.