13/11/2001

The Citigroup Private Bank Photography Prize is one of the most celebrated awards in the world of contemporary photography. Last year’s winner Boris Mikhailov created a stir with his pictures of Russians on the fringe of society and this year the British media has focused on American finalist Roger Ballen, who has been accused of exploiting his subjects, the often interbred "white trash" isolated Afrikaans communities whom the apartheid system in South Africa tried to hide away. Short-listed from over seventy entries, the other finalists are Elina Brotherus (Finland), Shirana Shahbazi (Iran), Thomas Ruff (Germany) and Philip-Lorca diCorcia (USA). An exhibition of their work will be held from the 1st of February to the 31st of March 2002 at the Photographer’s gallery, London where the announcement of the winner of the $ 21,500 (€ 24,500) prize will be made by the French fashion designer Agnés b on the 28th of February 2002. Their work covers a vast range of styles and subjects from contemporary Tehran (Shahbazi) to digitally-manipulated collages of web-porn (Ruff) and city pedestrians lit like cinema idols (diCorcia). The jury this year is Hervé Chandès, (Director, Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris); Charlotte Cotton, (Assistant Curator of Photographs, Victoria and Albert Museum, London); and Paul Graham, artist, London. Ian Dunlop, Fine Art Consultant, is the non-voting Chairman of the Jury. The runners up will each receive $ 2,150 (€ 2,500). (James Goulder)