Stenin Contest Winners' Exhibition Opens in Durban for the First Time
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The Andrey Stenin International Press Photo Contest exhibition has opened for the first time in Durban, at the Durban Media House. The display features 30 photographs by the winners and laureates of the 2025 contest season.
Prior to the opening, the exhibition was announced on several media facades across Durban, introducing residents and visitors to the forthcoming display.
In his opening address, Dr Iqbal Survé, Chairman of Survé Group Holdings, emphasized:
In his opening address, Dr Iqbal Survé, Chairman of Survé Group Holdings, emphasized:
"Bringing the Andrey Stenin exhibition to Durban is meaningful to me. Durban is a city with a rich history of cultural exchange and international connection. [...] It is a fitting place for photographs that cross borders without requiring translation. An image can move from Russia to South Africa, from Asia to Africa, from one generation to another, and still communicate something deeply human. [..] Hosting the Andrey Stenin exhibition continues my commitment to bringing people together through images and shared stories. I hope it becomes a bridge between South Africa and the wider world, and particularly between young photographers and audiences who may encounter their work for the first time here in Durban."
For his part, Russia's Ambassador to South Africa, Roman Ambarov, noted:
“Over the years, the exhibition of the Andrey Stenin International Photo Contest has become a cherished and well-established tradition in South Africa. It all began in 2016 with the first exhibition in Cape Town, which I had the honour of opening in my capacity as Consul General of Russia. Since then, the photography project has returned to South Africa every year, introducing audiences to the finest works of young photojournalists from around the world. [...] Durban’s inclusion on the international roadshow itinerary for the competition is a natural continuation of this long-standing tradition."
Ethekwini Municipaluty Mayor, Councellor Cyril Xaba added:
“As we gather here at the Durban Media House, we celebrate more than just technical skill. We celebrate the courage to bear witness. Compelling photojournalism possesses a unique, universal language. It transcends borders, breaks down linguistic barriers, and bridges deep cultural divides. A single, perfectly captured image can communicate the raw reality of human resilience, culture, and tradition in a fraction of a second. Through the lenses of the talented young photojournalists featured today, we traverse countries and continents”.
The exhibition showcases the work of photographers from Russia, China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Myanmar, the Czech Republic, Palestine, and Bahrain.
The 2025 roadshow has already visited Serbia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Brazil, Mauritania, Iran, and Indonesia. South Africa becomes the eighth stop on the route — and the closing point of the contest's 11th season.
The exhibition is being held with the support of the contest's partners — the African News Agency, the National Media Group, and the IOL portal. South Africa holds the record hosting for the most Stenin Contest exhibitions outside Russia. Previous displays have been held in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria.
The exhibition at Durban Media House will be open to the public until 23 October 2026.
