The Deutsche Börse prize is one of photography's most prestigious awards. Each year four nominees fight it out — they are always artists with very different styles and this year is no different.
First up is Richard Mosse for his brilliantly filtered take on life and death in the Congo. We've reviewed this exhibition in its entirety and it's best to see the entire work rather than the few photographs on display in this exhibition. We really liked this entry and it's easy to see why Mosse has the popular vote and is many people's favourite to win.
Lorna Simpson uses portrait photography to highlight the inequities in society for both women and ethnic minorities. Though this is a strong political statement, the message has arguably been more effectively delivered by artists such as Ellen Gallagher and Kara Walker.
Alberto Garcia-Alix has charted his life through self-portraits that cover both the political developments in Spain and his personal battles. This introspective and long-ranging study is the emotional heavyweight of the four.
Jochen Lempert feels like the free spirit of the group with his often grainy photographs of nature that are sometimes so blurry they become abstract. Lempert finds beauty in the everyday of the world, whether it be four swans on a lake or the shoulder of a girl pressed against the glass of a phone box.
Though we have a soft spot for Lempert, we're backing Mosse for the win but Garcia-Alix has a strong chance of stealing it.
The Deutsche Börse prize is on at The Photographer's Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies St, W1F 7LW until 22 June. Admission is free.
For more exhibitions to see in London this month, check out our April art events listing.
