Residents and guests of Bishkek will be able to see the winning photos of the most prestigious photojournalism competition in the world

January 14, 2019

On Thursday, January 10, American University of Central Asia hosted the World Press Photo Exhibition in partnership with Media Policy Institute, World Press Photo, the Netherlands Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tadzhikistan.

The winning photos of the most prestigious photojournalism competition in the world were presented. Many outstanding photographers of Kyrgyzstan came to look at photographs and evaluate the exhibition.

The official opening ceremony started with a welcome speech by the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Kyrgyz Republic, Dirk Jan Kop who said, “It is very important for us to held such an exhibition in Bishkek. This is the second time in the history when the exhibition takes place here in Kyrgyzstan. World Press Photo founded in 1955 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, has grown into the most prestigious platform for the journalist worldwide. You can really see here the best photos of professional journalists in the world, 42 photographs chosen by the international jury out of 73 000 that give you an impression.  We wanted this exhibition to take place in the building accessible to everyone, with no entrance fee. We are grateful to the American University of Central Asia that you provided the excellent venue to us. We selected the photo with young rhino for the exhibition because it is highly symbolic. There is a rhino with the blindfold that will be released into the world soon. The title of the photo “Waiting for Freedom”. We have to put photojournalism in the context of freedom. People can only form opinions if they know the facts. This exhibition shows that the facts are all around us. They are taken far or close from here, but the problems that humanity faces are the same everywhere. This rhino with the blindfold waiting for a release to go into the world and see. That is what we have to do, go to the world and see! That is what photojournalists do for us, they show this world!"

The Minister of Culture, Information, and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic, Azamat Zhamankulov also attended the exhibition and personally got acquainted with the artworks. “I am pleased to welcome all of you to the culturally important event for the country. There are 42 best photos selected out of 73,000. I would like to thank the organizers of such an outstanding exhibition. It reveals not only conflicts and problems all over the world, but also natural phenomena, various historical events. The photo shows us character, faces of people and story of people. Sometimes it is enough to look at one photo to understand what is going on, rather than read 1000 words. I am glad that everything that happened in 2017 reflected in these photos”, addressed Mr. Zhumankulov.

The winners were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed more than 73,000 photographs entered by 4,548 photographers from 125 countries. The best 42 artworks, that were recognized and arrived in Bishkek, were composed.

Begaim Usenova, Director of Media Policy Institute said, “We are organizers of the exhibition in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tadzhikistan and Uzbekistan, AUCA and World Press Photo. Media Policy Institute promotes freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan. It is a great honor for us to hold a worldwide traveling exhibition in Kyrgyzstan, which will be available to visit at AUCA within two weeks. This exhibition gives us the opportunity to stop for a moment and look at the unique, shocking, and interesting events that took place last year all over the world. Photography is very important, because it touches, makes you think, helps to comprehend what is going on around. We invite the residents and guests of Bishkek to visit this exhibition because such events are very important and rare."

Volunteers and students taught by Elena Shevstsova on the “Art of Conduction an Exhibition”, told to guests about each photo colorfully and descriptive.

Visiting hours

Monday - Sunday: 09:00 - 18:00

Everyone will be able to see the most piercing photos of journalists from around the world at the American University of Central Asia from January 11 to January 24, 2019.
The entrance is free

ATTENTION: There are photographs showing the consequences of armed conflict presented. That is why we do not recommend people under 16 to attend the event.

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