David Goldblatt nominated for prestigious UK prize
by Sean O'Toole
David Goldblatt has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2004 Citigroup photography prize, hosted by London's Photographer's Gallery. The Johannesburg-based photographer is one of four finalists, the other three being Joel Sternfeld, Peter Fraser and Robert Adams. The prize offers a �20,000 cash prize.
Goldblatt was nominated for his essay The Transported of KwaNdebele, a black and white reportage study of the arduous journeys undertaken by labourers from distant apartheid homelands to places of work in a then still segregated Gauteng cities.
Asked how he favoured his chances, the 73-year-old photographer humbly demurred, stating that he did not think he would win. His humility is revealing, but also not without substantiation.
In a review of the 2002 Citigroup photography prize, which included Roger Ballen's work, Liam Gillick wrote: "Roger Ballen's work is uninteresting". This was the full extent of his appraisal. One hopes the judges will not simply dismiss Goldblatt's work with the same disregard. The winner will be announced on March 4, 2004.
