Entry is now open for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2020. Open to all, it is the leading international competition, and celebrates and promotes the very best in contemporary portrait photography.
This year the exhibition will be displayed online, from Tuesday 24 November 2020, in a virtual gallery that replicates the rooms of the NPG. This virtual exhibition will allow the Gallery to reach a wide international audience and ensure that the competition is able to continue as planned during the current Coronavirus pandemic. Online visitors will be able to view the portraits collectively, as well as exploring each individual work in more detail.
Previous Winners:
Pat Martin's intimate series of portraits of his late mother, Goldie, who struggled with addiction issues throughout her life, allowed him to reconnect with her and gave him the opportunity to build upon an empty photo album.
"For most of my life, I misunderstood my mother and witnessed how the world misunderstood her," he said. "Photographing her became a way of looking into a mirror and finding details I never noticed."
"I began this project when at the 11th hour, and needing to reconnect, I chose to focus where I was fearful to look. When I recognised I was without a document of her existence, the camera became a magnet, pulling in her direction over and over, taking one memory at a time."
These images depict the unique and aspirational subculture surrounding all-female teams of drum majorettes in South Africa. These girls, affectionately known as ‘drummies’ are from some of the country’s most marginalised communities.
"This is part of my ongoing work exploring notions of femininity and empowerment in modern society. With my continued investigation into this subculture, I hope that these images can communicate the pride and confidence these girls have achieved through identifying as ‘drummies,’ in a context where they face many social challenges. I want these images to function as a testament to the commitment and determination of these young athletes. I hope that they can contribute to the visual documentation of this inspiring female subculture, in a world where so many sporting opportunities are still focused on men," says Mann in her artist statement.
The deadline is Tuesday, 22 September. Enter here.
