Ties That Bind: Taipei, Taiwan

The family is a historical institution—but not an unchanging one. This exhibition considers a decidedly contemporary, complex range of familial relationships, as represented by photographs that have won the World Press Photo Contest during the last 20 years.

Showcasing works by more than 20 preeminent photographers and photojournalists, Ties That Bind presents diverse perspectives on what constitutes family. Numerous photographs on view portray the normative nuclear family—composed of a mother, a father, and their children—and extended family members such as grandparents or cousins. Other images present familial structures that involve single-parent or blended households, same-sex couples, and surrogate mothers. Forms of kinship among people without biological ties also feature prominently in the exhibition. From adoptive families to teammates, gangs, neighbors, religious congregations, and more, many images on display underscore the importance of what is often referred to as “chosen family.”

Implicit within the variety of family pictures are different types of interactions, roles, and connections that can form between family members. Acknowledging that such dynamics can range from supportive and loving to dramatic, stressful, and even harmful, the selection of photographs invites us to reconsider the notion of family anew as inclusive, expansive, and ever-shifting.