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Accredited representatives of the diplomatic corps in Chisinau, journalists, photographers and students participated in the launching event.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Chisinau, based in Bucharest, Her Excellency Stella Ronner-Grubacic, noted that it is the Embassy’s honor to support World Press Photo Exhibition in Chisinau: ‘2018 is marked by misinformation tendencies, which lead to the regress of democratic values and the rule of law. This exhibition is a way to fight misinformation, demonstrating the power of images that can say more than a thousand words. We urge you to visit the exhibition and discover the life stories behind them’, ambassador said.
Sanne Schim van der Loeff, representative of the ‘World Press Photo’ Foundation, Netherlands, pointed out that exhibition is conducted under the ‘Stories that matter’ title. World Press Photo Foundation annually encourages journalists to eternize the events happening all over the world. This is a form of freedom of expression, which became a necessity, an unquestionable right. We urge journalists to go out on the streets and capture the reality. Exposition contains both shocking and attractive images, which means that regardless of the problems they face, people find ways to fight for happiness’ Sanne Schim van der Loeff underlined.
Nadine Gogu, Executive Director of the Independent Journalism Center, underlined that exhibition comes to Chisinau for the second time. ‘These images promote freedom of expression and present various perspectives of the realities happening in the world. Some give a sense of calmness, other confuse or even shock us, making us want to find out what is behind them. This demonstrates that there must be no limits when speaking about the freedom of expression. We hope that in the next three weeks exhibition will be visited by as many people as possible’, Head of IJC Nadine Gogu mentioned.
Photojournalist Nicolae Pojoga pointed out that ‘humanity goes through a severe social and photographic crisis’. ‘These impressive photos, made by professionals in various hot spots of the planet, do not affect politics. Currently, we enter a phase of the world change, and things will take another turn. I would like photographers to go ahead of these changes’, concluded Nicolae Pojoga.
The World Press Photo Exhibition includes 137 photographs capturing realities and major events that marked the humanity. Photographs were taken during 2017 in different countries of the world.
This year, the World Photo of the Year Prize was awarded to Venezuelan photographer Ronaldo Schemidt for ‘Venezuela Crisis’ photo. It shows a man in flames during the protests in Venezuela. Photo was nominated the winner in Spot News Single category and illustrates the burning of Jose Victor Salazar Balza during violent clashes with the police forces at a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela. Salazar caught fire when fuel tank of a motorcycle exploded. He survived the incident with first- and second-degree burns.
Exhibition is open every day, except Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until 12 December. Ticket price is 10 lei for adults and 5 lei for students.
This year, the 61st edition of the contest gathered about 5,000 photographers from 125 countries who sent over 73,000 pictures. The jury awarded 45 photographers from 25 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syria, New Zealand, Turkey, Great Britain and USA.
The annual international World Press Photo exhibition travels all over the world. It is installed in about 100 showrooms in over 45 countries and is visited by about 4.5 million people each edition. Before coming to Chisinau, the exhibition was organised in Amsterdam, Milan, Tokyo, Rome, Seville, Barcelona, Hamburg, Zurich, Dortmund, Berlin, Auckland, Ottawa, Santiago, Edinburgh, Venice, Bucharest, Timisoara, Eindhoven, Budapest, Copenhagen, Toronto, Madrid, Singapore, Islamabad, etc.
The event is organized by the ‘World Press Photo’ Foundation from the Netherlands, in partnership with the Independent Journalism Center, with the support of Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
