The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize has unveiled its shortlist for 2025, featuring four international artists: Cristina De Middel, Rahim Fortune, Tarrah Krajnak, and Lindokuhle Sobekwa. This esteemed award, established in 1996, recognizes artistic projects that have made significant contributions to the field of photography over the preceding year. As one of the foremost accolades in contemporary photography, the Prize not only highlights innovative work but also reflects the evolving narratives within the medium.
The shortlisted projects encompass a diverse range of photographic practices, from documentary photography and constructed images to self-portraiture and family archives. Central themes emerge, including migration, community, belonging, and intergenerational traditions. This year's selection underscores a powerful discourse, showcasing influential works exhibited or published in Europe in the past twelve months.
The Artists and Their Visions
Cristina De Middel’s “Inocente Pobre Amigo”, part of her series “Journey to the Center”, captures the Central American migration route through Mexico. By juxtaposing the odyssey of migration with the fantastical elements of Jules Verne’s classic narrative, De Middel reframes what is often portrayed as a desperate escape into a narrative of courage and resilience. Her work deftly combines documentary photography with constructed images, offering multi-layered stories that challenge simplistic media portrayals. As she navigates from Tapachula to Felicity—self-proclaimed 'Center of the World'—the viewer is confronted with the stark reality of borders and the dreams that remain unfulfilled.
Rahim Fortune’s “Praying Cowboy” encapsulates the essence of Black cultural heritage within the American South. Shortlisted for his forthcoming book Hardtack, Fortune employs the historical symbolism of hardtack—an emblem of survival and land migration—to explore the deep-rooted connections between his community and the landscape. His striking portraits not only document coming-of-age rituals but also pay homage to the cultural performances that interweave generations. Through this lens, Fortune articulates a sincere narrative of love and belonging, weaving together personal and collective histories in a manner that resonates deeply within the broader context of African American experiences.
Tarrah Krajnak’s work, “Sister Rock/Rock that Tries to Forget”, blurs the boundaries between self-portraiture and performance. Her nomination stems from the exhibition Shadowings, which spans two decades of her exploration of identity and memory through photography. By revisiting and restaging historical works with her own body, Krajnak challenges traditional art historical canons, compelling viewers to reconsider the narratives surrounding representation and agency. Her commitment to various photographic techniques—ranging from pigment prints to cyanotypes—demonstrates a meticulous approach that prioritizes the materiality of the medium, inviting deeper engagement with the photographs.
Lindokuhle Sobekwa’s profoundly personal project, “I Carry Her Photo with Me”, serves as a poignant exploration of memory and loss. Through a scrapbook-style publication that combines photographs, handwritten notes, and family snapshots, Sobekwa delves into the troubling narrative of disappearances—a grim aspect of South Africa’s socio-political landscape. The work reflects not only his personal history but also addresses broader themes of fragmentation and the enduring legacies of apartheid. In doing so, Sobekwa powerfully evokes the interplay between personal narratives and collective trauma.
The project’s origins are steeped in personal history.
Sobekwa discovered a family portrait of his older sister, Ziyanda, notable for one jarring detail: her face had been cut out. This photograph remains the sole visual link he has to her. Their childhood was marred by a tragic incident when, at ages seven and thirteen, Ziyanda playfully chased Sobekwa, only for the moment to turn disastrous when he was struck by a car. After that day, she disappeared, reemerging a decade later, but she was ill, and their reunion was tragically short-lived; Ziyanda died shortly thereafter.
As Sobekwa navigated his burgeoning career in photography, the absence of his sister loomed large in his work. His attempts to capture her likeness in later portraits were fraught with emotion. During one such session, when he sought to photograph her, Ziyanda’s anger led him to stop, revealing the complexities and pain inherent in trying to encapsulate a lost connection.
The shortlisted artists will showcase their work in an exhibition at The Photographers’ Gallery in London from 7 March to 15 June 2025. The winner, who will receive a £30,000 prize, will be announced on 15 May 2025, alongside recognition for the other finalists.
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