World Press Photo Exhibition - Once More
It's been a year since I last visited the Museo Franz Mayer, for the same reason, with the same people: to see the exhibition of the best photos from the world press. I even posted about it. So once again I want to share my favorite three photos of this year's exhibition.
All in all I had the impression that last year's pictures were more impactful. This may simply be my own subjective feeling, perhaps due to oversaturation of wars and natural disasters happening seemingly everywhere. However, there were a few images that stood out. These are my picks:
Drone Warfare by David Guttenfelder
We know that modern wars are fought with unmanned drones, controlled remotely from a distant bunker, that deliver destruction from the air. The drones themselves are fairly simple in technology, are relatively cheap, and are mass produced in huge numbers, outsmarting sophisticated air defense systems, by using up expensive missiles. We've heard about this in most recent wars, such as Ukraine or Iran.
With this given information, it was shocking to see what such a drone factory looks like in this photo. This literally could be some garage somewhere! (Notice the mirror on the back wall.) And yes, you would rightfully assume, there are plenty of them in many places. Clearly, the guys assembling them are wearing face covers, so they would not be recognized in the press photo.
Generation Z Protest in Madagascar by Luis Tato
Gen Z is coming of age in our wicked world, and they are rightfully pissed, just as you would expect them to be. Refusing to accept thing sitting down, they actually have had quite a bit of success in organizing and resisting, even implementing change, such as in Nepal. Very impressive, and recommendable. What I had not known until yesterday, was a symbol they adopted for their fight. One that I have been seeing all around everywhere, without realizing what it was or what it stood for.
A cartoon Jolly Roger wearing a straw hat. Kinda cool, actually. The image comes from the manga One Piece, whose character Monkey D. Luffy is in a constant struggle against a corrupt one-world government. Quite fittingly, it has been adopted by young people in social movements across the world, from Indonesia and Nepal, to Madagascar and the Philippines, and even France and Mexico.
Emma, the Social Robot by Paula Hornickel
The picture I found more impactful than all the others, does not feature war, unrest, disease, or natural destruction. In fact, it is empty and boring, more than anything. However, it only suggests the true emptiness and the real boredom that is behind this photo: living in a nursing home in Germany. A quarter of a century ago I worked in of those myself, and I'm sure it's only gotten worse since. The constant shortage of staff means the physical needs of the elderly are taken care of, but there is no one to talk to them. Until now...
In this image we can see Emma, a robot created specifically for this cause. To be there, and talk, and laugh, and entertain. Great! According to the description, the lady in the picture enjoys her conversations with the bot, which I'm not surprised at I would too, if the alternative meant talking to the unresponsive lampshade, or something. Still, the image is scary if you consider the implications behind it. Is this the kind of world we want to be living in? - Little curiousness on the side: If you notice, the robot did not get up on that seat by itself!