THIS year’s winners of the international Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) photo competition, now in its 40th edition, have been chosen. In the main category — the Leica Oskar Barnack Award — the winner is Italian photographer Luca Locatelli’ series Future Studies.

The Leica Oskar Barnack Award in the Newcomer category, for photographers up to the age of 30, goes to the Portuguese photographer Gonçalo Fonseca, for his New Lisbon series. 

Future Studies is a long-term project by Mr. Locatelli, in which he researches new ways for humanity to survive on planet Earth. With his series of 20 colour photos, he questions the existing concepts around permanent economic growth and, as a result, opens up an intense debate with regards our relationship with nature and with technology.

“One of the characteristic symptoms of the times we are living in is the growing feeling that we are losing the vision of a better future, of a promising, yet unknown, hypothetical tomorrow,” Mr. Locatelli was quoted as saying in a release. “During these tough times of COVID-19, when the world seems to have stood still, we have been given a chance like never before. We can consider what our behaviour should look like in the future, where efforts should be made to re-establish a healthy relationship with nature and the planet.”

After working as a software developer for over 10 years, Mr. Locatelli began to work as a documentary photographer in 2006. He has been represented by international agencies, such as the Institute for Artist Management, since 2016; and has been a photographer for National Geographic since 2015. Within the framework of his work as a photographer and filmmaker, Mr. Locatelli produces stories in collaboration with journalists, environmentalists, and scientists, to further conceptualise his research.

With 19 color images, Mr. Fonseca’s New Lisbon series offers insight into the dramatic circumstances currently affecting the housing situation in Lisbon. Because of exploding property prices, many tenants have lost their homes. Making use of individual stories, the Portuguese photographer reveals the consequences of increasing gentrification.

“My New Lisbon series explores the issue of housing insecurity, and reveals the fears and anxiety that arise when you don’t have a stable roof over your head. In recent years, at least 10,000 tenant families have been put out on the streets by their landlords, and have no other alternative than to squat in abandoned apartments. This is their story,” said Mr. Fonseca. Mr. Fonseca was among the winners of the World Press Photo in 2016 and 2019.

“On behalf of myself and the other jury members (Joel Meyerowitz, art director and photographer; Pauline Benthede, Exhibitions Director for Fotografiska International; Malin Schulz, Art Director of ZEIT; and Klaus Kehrer, Publisher), I would like to congratulate the winners of this year’s Leica Oskar Barnack Awards. I was impressed by the high level of the quality of the submissions. Our sincere gratitude also goes to all our nominators from around the world,” says Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Art Director and Chief Representative for Leica Galleries International.

In addition to the prize money, which has been increased to 40,000 euros this year, Mr. Locatelli also receives camera equipment valued at 10,000 euros. As winner of the Newcomer Award, Mr. Fonseca will receive a photographic assignment, a two-week tutoring course at Leica Camera AG Headquarters in Wetzlar, and a Leica Q, valued at 5,000 euros.

Both LOBA 2020 winners will have an exhibition at the Leica Gallery in Leitz Park. In parallel, a comprehensive presentation of 40 Years of Leica Oskar Barnack Awards will open at the Ernst Leitz Museum at the same location.  The exhibition will be accompanied by the LOBA catalogue, which will include all the winners over the 40 years, with comprehensive photo series and background information.

Further information, as well as in-depth interviews with this year’s winners, can be found at: www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com.

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