Stan Douglas Wins Scotiabank Photography Award

Vancouver artist Stan Douglas has won the third annual Scotiabank Photography Award. The award is Canada’s largest annual peer reviewed celebration of excellence in Canadian contemporary photography.  

The $50,000 prize, announced Thursday evening at Toronto's Ryerson Image Centre, also comes with a primary Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival exhibition in 2014 and book of his work to be published by international art publisher Steidel. 

"Stan Douglas has helped define and enrich the Canadian art and photography landscape with his outstanding artwork," said famed Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky, who is co-founder of the award and Chair of the jury.

"He has pushed the limits of contemporary photography and will continue to have an incredible impact on the world of photography both here in Canada and abroad." 

Douglas is recognized as part of the Vancouver school of photoconceptualists that also includes Ian Wallace, Jeff Wall and Rodney Graham. He has created films, photographs, installations, and soon, mobile apps that reexamine particular locations or past events. His work includes Nu•tka, a two-part layered video of the landscape in Nootka Sound, and the photomural Abbott & Cordova, 7 August 1971, representing the Gastown riot, which is on display in Vancouver's Woodward's building. His work has been shown at such exhibitions as documenta, the Whitney Biennial, and the Venice Biennale.

Two other finalists, Angela Grauerholz and Robert Walker, both from Montreal, each receive $5,000.

For more information about the winner, finalists, jury and prize, please visit: www.scotiabankphotoaward.com

Image: Stan Douglas, “Abbott & Cordova, 7 August 1971,” 2008. Via Wikipedia.