news
You Oughta Be in Pictures
No one ever asks what Torontoist’s favourite building in the city is, but if they did we would surely reply, “Why, BCE Place, of course.” With it’s soaring windows and light-grid flooring, the Allan Lambert Galleria (the official name of the main atrium) is usually flooded with light, and is thus an ideal venue for all manner of art exhibitions. It is to TOist’s great delight that this space is beng used more and more for such things – a few weeks ago a gorgeous series of photographs of water were on display to raise awareness for one of David Suzuki’s conservation projects. And until October 23rd, the World Press Photo annual exhibition of award-winning photojournalism is up for all to see. World Press Photo, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is a non-profit organization based in Amsterdam that runs the world’s largest annual photojournalism contest. The winning entries are put on display in cities all over the world, and BCE Place has been playing host to the exhibition in Toronto for the past several years. This year’s powerful batch of photographs ranges from funny to beautiful to upsetting, and often some combination those adjectives. There are shots of anything and everything; sly sports photography is mounted alongside images of war so violent and personal it is a wonder the film survived. The juxtaposition of this variety of images is thought-provoking and moving, and it is well worth braving the throngs of tourists lining up at the Marche (and if you go on a weekday, all you’ll have to contend with are the suits).
Photo credit: Bob Martin, UK, Sports Illustrated. 1st Prize Sports Singles. 200m freestyle heats at Paralympic Games. Courtesy of World Press Photo.