by Nicola Popovic
“Say: 'peace'!”
Pictures are part of Emiliano Larizza's work that won the World Press Photo contest in 2012
© Emiliano Larizza, 2011.
An art exhibition of pictures taken in humanitarian settings always moves us, leaves us thinking about what we can do, what we have done, how we live and maybe even leaves a bad taste in one's mouth. I wonder what the pictures have changed in the person’s life they portray. Images are powerful. They have moved people, changed their mind, influenced political decisions and even have a say over investments in development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, mass media often uses an emotive and polarizing discourse which influences the visual representation of the already established.