Barbelith Underground > Art, Fashion & Design > Citigroup Photography Prize 2004

So the Citigroup Photography Prize is out again and why you haven't been to see it is a mystery to me.

Yes lithers the one of the world's, and certainly Britain's most important photograph/art prizes is out in force again and those "talenless hacks who can't draw" have managed to come up with the goods for the eight year in a row.

This year you can expect to see an overall theme of topography blended with mix of social commentary, portraiture and abstractism (although not really that abstract if you're looking for obliqueness). Again I find the selection compelling, although this year there is a notable absence of the reserved shock factor that has been a staple of previous year's entries to the prize.

Ultimately the four entrants seem to be trying to understand the world around them rather than to define it to you and much of what is displayed asks more questions than it answers.

For my choice I'm going with Peter Fraser whose work breaks from the traditional rule of "a picture must tell a story" and subtly asks you to say what has happened or is happening. Each picture presents as pleasantly simple and minimal on the surface but will offer up it's complexities as the audience spends time with it.

In fact the exhibition as a whole is something that needs and deserves a slow viewing.

Any opinions.

Here are some links for you.

The BBC report

The Photographers Gallery