The artist will also receive CHF 100,000 as a reward for the globally significant story his series on desertification in China, entitled The Chinese Dust Bowl, say. The Prix Pictet is the only photography prize to focus on the most important global issue of our time: sustainability. For the Prix Pictet’s inaugural year the focus was on water.

Munem Wasif was awarded CHF 40,000, this year’s commission to photograph WaterAid’s work to bring clean tap water to village communities in Bangladesh, supported by Pictet and Cie.

The Prix Pictet exhibition runs from 29 October – 7 November 2008 at the Palais de Tokyo, Paris. Candlestar has also secured one of the major exhibition spaces at the Dubai International Finance Centre. Starting on 9 November 2008, an exhibition of selected works by artists shortlisted for the Prix Pictet 2008 will be on display until the end of the month and it will then tour internationally, prior to the launch of the 2009 award. Tour dates will be published on www.prixpictet.com when available.