Unpacking Seven Decades of World Press Photo
In 2025, World Press Photo celebrates its 70th anniversary. In this landmark year, we’ve taken the deliberate step of inviting external interpretation of our extensive archive. The anniversary exhibition, What Have We Done?, curated by Cristina de Middel, aims to deepen and challenge one’s understanding of how images construct meaning, promoting a more nuanced engagement with visual storytelling.
By examining archival images and their contexts, we acknowledge the remarkable work done by journalists in often very challenging circumstances, while simultaneously inviting the public to engage with our visual past not as a fixed narrative, but as a living resource that informs how we might tell stories differently.
The exhibition is organized around six recurring visual patterns identified in our archive:
- Women Weeping and Men Rescuing
- Emotional Soldier and Debris
- Being a Man and Being a Woman
- Black Skin and the Dark Continent
- Silhouettes and Shadows: The "Wow" Moment
- Fire and Smoke
In seven decades, the three words that define this award have transformed completely: "World," "Press," and "Photo" don’t mean the same in 1955 as they do today. This exhibition acknowledges that shift while asking where we go from here.
It is an invitation to rethink not just how our visual language has changed but also how we, as viewers and citizens, should be learning to read images with a sharper and more critical eye.
At World Press Photo, we believe in the power of storytelling to spark dialogue, raise awareness, and inspire change.
About the curator
Cristina de Middel is a Spanish photographer renowned for her conceptual approach to photojournalism. Formerly a staff photojournalist, she transitioned to personal projects that challenge perceptions of reality. Her notable works include The Afronauts, a reimagining of Zambia's 1960s space program, and Journey to the Center, documenting migrant caravans through Mexico. She was a recent president of Magnum Photos.
Visitor information
Event location
Drik Picture Library
Level-6, 16, DrikPath Bhobon, Sukrabad Panthapath
Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
Tickets
Free admission
Organization details
Drik Picture Library
Related program
The What Have We Done? exhibition will be accompanied by a pop-up festival where critical thinkers, speakers, and photographers will spark dialogue and reflect on the themes of the exhibition through a program of talks and panel discussions, photographer presentations, workshops, guided tours, and educational activities.
More information to follow.
