World Press Photo Exhibition Debuts in Andorra Showcasing Global Crises

The World Press Photo exhibition has opened for the first time in Andorra at the former Hotel Pol in Sant Julià de Lòria, featuring 42 winning projects selected from nearly 60,000 images submitted by almost 4,000 photographers across 141 countries.

Organized by Reunió de Papaia and Grisart Lab with institutional support, the display runs for 21 days from June 10 to 30. It is open daily from 11am to 8pm Monday through Saturday, and 11am to 2pm on Sundays.

The exhibition highlights global challenges including armed conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, climate emergencies, migrations, social inequalities, health issues, and marginalized communities. Specific works cover restricted sites such as a Ukrainian drone factory, where workers' identities were protected, and immigration courts in New York. Other images depict a couple marrying amid floods in the Philippines and robots aiding elderly care.

The top prize went to Carol Guzy's photograph capturing a father separated from his daughter during a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation at a New York immigration court. Two other finalists include Victor Blue's image of Achi women in Guatemala receiving justice decades after military rapes during the civil war, and Samar Abu Elouf's photo of crowds scrambling for aid in war-torn Gaza.

A standout feature is the memorial installation, designed with input from design professionals and the Associació d’Amics del Disseny, honoring journalists and photographers killed on the job. It lists names from 2023 through 2025, fulfilling an organizational requirement but expanded for greater impact.

Pere Moles, the exhibition organizer, noted the effort to bring the touring show to Andorra after years of pursuit, emphasizing its fit for non-traditional venues. Alba Noguera, a World Press Photo representative, described it as a pause from news overload, offering productive discomfort to foster empathy.

Inauguration attendees included Sant Julià de Lòria's consellera major Cerni Cairat, Culture Minister Mònica Bonell, Health Minister Helena Mas, and Andorra la Vella's conseller major Sergi González, who praised its role in sparking reflection on local and global issues.