The awards’ Honorary Judging Committee has selected Iranian photojournalist Asghar Khamseh as the recipient of its most coveted prize, the L’Iris d’Or Photographer of the Year. Chosen from the winners of the awards’ fourteen Professional categories, the winning work, ‘Fire of Hatred’, is a powerful portrait series tackling the social issues around the violent act of acid throwing. Khamseh was announced as the winner of the $25,000 (USD) prize at an awards ceremony in London in front of industry leaders.
Dominique Green, Chair, Documentary Jury said of the work: “Portraits of disfigurement resulting from social violence are undoubtedly a hard-hitting subject, and one which the longstanding tradition of documentary photography does not shy away from. The power of Asghar Khamseh’s imposing series ‘Fire of Hatred’ is such that he enables the viewer to face head-on intimate images, which could be testing to examine closely, with empathy and respect which in turn allows the viewer to become a witness and not just a spectator. The Jury were united in their admiration of this work and the light it shed on the tragic practice it exposes.”
Fire of Hatred
The violent act of acid throwing is primarily against women and children. These attacks are committed with the intent to disfigure, maim and destroy the social life and future of the victim. The motivation to commit this type of violence is cultural destitution, intolerance and happens in situations such as family conflicts, rejected marriage proposal, revenge and divorce requests. In addition physical and psychological damages, victims are faced with the experience of social stigma ,blame and social unpleasant tags.
2nd Prize : Kevin Frayer, Canada
China’s Coal Dependence A Challenge For Climate
3rd Prize : Simona Ghizzoni, Italy
UNCUT Pokot / Kenya
Asghar Khamseh (b. 1963) began photographing for various organisations and newspapers in Iran in 2005. In 2011 he was employed by the semi-official Mehr news agency. Khamseh’s work focuses on events in Iran, particularly human rights issues.
EXHIBITION
Sony World Photography Awards 2016
From 22 April to 8 May 2016
Somerset House
Strand, London WC2R 1LA
United Kingdom
https://www.somersethouse.org.uk
http://www.worldphoto.org/2016exhibition
