Gwen Lee is the co-founder of the Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) and founding director of DECK Photography Art Centre, which won the Singapore President’s Design Award. In 2022, Lee was awarded the Chevalier of the Order of Arts & Letters by France, Ministry of Culture. Lee has curated notable exhibitions in Asia and has served as a jury member and portfolio reviewer for international photography awards and festivals, including FOAM Paul Huf Award, New Cosmos Japan, FORMAT, Houston Fotofestival, Daegul Photo Biennale, Recontres d’ Arles and Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
What does the shortlist say about photography today?
The shortlist continues to highlight photography as a profound medium for expressing and navigating complex human experiences. These works showcase deeply personal stories while also reflecting our connections to the society we inhabit. Each image serves as a powerful reminder of the shared narratives that shape our lives, inviting viewers to engage with both individual emotions and broader social themes.
Please can you sum up the shortlist in two or three words?
Distinct voices, sincere and powerful.
Photographer Dana Lixenberg is based in Amsterdam and New York. Alongside her extensive editorial work, her photographic practice focuses on marginalised communities, often taking a long-term collaborative approach. She studied at London College of Printing in London and Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. Lixenberg’s work is collected widely and has been exhibited internationally, including at Aperture Foundation, New York; Huis Marseille and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and The Photographers’ Gallery.
What does the shortlist say about photography today?
What connects these projects is that they take personal histories or experiences as a starting point, while reflecting on larger themes, employing a myriad of visual strategies.
Please can you sum up the shortlist in two or three words?
Vulnerability and empowerment.
Anne-Marie Beckmann is a German-French art historian and curator. She is the Director of the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation. Since 1999 she has been curating the Art Collection Deutsche Börse, an international collection of contemporary photography, and developing the company's cultural programme. She curates photography exhibitions at the Deutsche Börse headquarters in Frankfurt/Main and in other art institutions. Beckmann is a lecturer at the University of Art and Design in Offenbach/Main and has been an Honorary Professor there since October 2023.
What does the shortlist say about photography today?
The 2025 shortlist testifies to the unbroken power of photography to explore and document one's own identity and history, and that of others
Please can you sum up the shortlist in two or three words?
Personal yet universal.
Aron Mörel is the founder and publisher of MÖREL, which specialises in publishing works by both established and emerging artists. Morel has published books by many artists, including Boris Mikhailov, Patti Smith, Corinne Day, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Ryan Gander, Thomas Ruff, Robert Mapplethorpe, Ryan McGinley and Nick Waplington.
What does the shortlist say about photography today?
The shortlist for the DB Prize presents the ultimate cross section of contemporary photography in Europe. From institutional exhibitions to independent publications, we see how both established and emerging practitioners are challenging and reshaping the medium. It is evident from this shortlist that the diversity of voices is challenging the lexicon and subject of the medium in exciting and thought-provoking ways.
Please can you sum up the shortlist in two or three words?
Urgent, diverse, intimate.
Shoair Mavlian is Director of The Photographers' Gallery where she leads the strategic vision and artistic direction of the organisation. She was previously Director of Photoworks where she oversaw the exhibitions, biennial festival, commissions, learning and engagement, publishing and digital content. Before that Mavlian was Assistant Curator, Photography and International Art at Tate Modern, London.
What does the shortlist say about photography today?
The shortlist highlights how photography's visual power can be used as a tool for contemporary storytelling. It also shows the variety of ways images are presented, in book form and in site specific exhibition installations.
Please can you sum up the shortlist in two or three words?
Bold contemporary storytelling.
