The International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (MICR) showcases for the first time the prestigious Prix Pictet. Founded in 2008 by the Pictet Group, this award has established itself as a major award in the field of photography dedicated to sustainability. This sixth edition relates to the theme « Disorder ». Social chaos, political uprisings, and climate disruption are all signs of the disorder that is the core focus of the works of the 12-presented finalists. Kofi Annan, Honorary President of the jury, said during the award ceremony held at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris « Our times are defined by disorder [...] Our mastery over manifold aspects of life has deluded us into thinking that we have bent the planet to our will. Yet the fragility of that assumption is exposed with each new pandemic, earthquake, tsunami or drought. With each passing day, our illusion of order is shattered ».
This picture is part of the series entitled « Culture of the Confrontation » by Ukrainian photojournalist Maxim Dondyuk. This work documents the clashes occurred in Ukraine in 2014. Police forces are shown here on Maidan Nezalezhnosti central square of Kiev on 19 February 2014. Maxim Dondyuk said « In my photos I tried to show the scale of all that happened in the centre of the country. Very often I lost the line between reality and fiction. I forgot the place, time and the cause of what was happening. In one moment the battle scenes remind me of terrible days of the previous wars. In another, frosty, fiery battle turned Maiden Nezalezhnosti into a phantasmagorical place. Carefree, obstreperous Kiev completely lost its familiar features ».
The series « Culture of the Confrontation » was awarded by the 2014 Rémi Ochlik prize given by the City of Perpignan during the International Festival of Photojournalism Visa pour l'Image. The same year, Maxim Dondyuk was designated as one of Magnum Photos' « 30 Under 30 » emerging documentary photographers. He collaborates with International organizations of which the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
