PICTET PRIZE

In this multi-media presentation, Mitch Epstein explores the motivation and method for his recent project

American Power. Begun in 2003, spanning five years and twenty-five states, American Power examines energy production and consumption in the United States and how they have become manifest in the country’s landscape. Epstein also reflects on the origins of the project, which reach back to work he made earlier in his career; and on the final leg of the project, which coincided with the historic 2008 American presidential election.This presentation will include an original score performed live by renowned cellist Erik Friedlander. His mixture of classical and contemporary styles—deeply rooted, in part, in the American vernacular—enters into a conversation with Epstein’s photographs and commentary to haunting effect.

The world’s first photography prize specifically devoted to sustainable development, the Pictet Prize addresses the new millennium’s most urgent social and environmental challenges by using photography to increase public awareness of the problems that really count. In 2008 and 2009 the themes were, respectively, Water and Earth, with the winning projects submitted by Benoît Aquin and Nadav Kander. For the third edition the theme is Growth. The prize was awarded by Kofi Annan on 17 March 2011 at the opening of an exhibition of works by the shortlisted artists at the Passage de Retz, Paris. The shortlisted artists are: Christian Als, Edward Burtynsky, Stéphane Couturier, Chris Jordan, Yeondoo Jung, Vera Lutter, Nyaba Leon Ouedraogo, Taryn Simon, Thomas Struth, Guy Tillim and Michael Wolf. Each year, in addition to the prize, Pictet & Co. backs a sustainable development project relating to the competition theme. The first two Commissions were completed by Munem Wasif (Bangladesh, 2008) and Ed Kashi (Madagascar, 2009). The name of the photographer chosen for the third Commission will also be announced on 17 April. This Commission will focus on the Nakuprat Conservancy in Northern Kenya. The resulting photographs will be premiered at an exhibition at Diemar Noble Photography in London in October. The screening will be associated with a cello concert performed by Erik Friedlander, composer, improviser and veteran of NYC’s downtown scene.

A SHORT MEXICAN HISTORY 2 / 3 : see Tuesday, 5 July.

First Part

DISCOVERY AWARD OF THE RENCONTRES D’ARLES

Screening of the fifteen artists nominated in 2011, presented by Simon Baker, first curator of photography at the Tate Modern in London, Chris Boot, executive director of Aperture Foundation in New York, Sam Stourdzé, director of the Musée de l’Elysée in Lausanne, David Barriet, David Benassayag, Béatrice Didier, all three founders and directors of the Point du Jour Centre d’art/Éditeur in Cherbourg, and Artur Walther, collector and founder of the Walther Collection in Neu-Ulm, Germany.

With the support of the LUMA Foundation.

Screenings by Coïncidence.

Musicians: Marc Simon (trombone and xylophone), Pierre Peyras (double bass), Bernard Mourier (piano) and Jean-Michel Thiriet (guitar).