The Taylor Wessing photo portrait prize exhibition makes a return at the National Portrait Gallery to showcase the judges’ picks for 2023. The exhibition offers a captivating array of diverse photographs that span across styles and focus on the subjects’ humanity – themes of struggle, family history, cultural backgrounds, self-discovery and successes are explored through the photographs on display.

The exhibition’s strength lies in its inclusivity, showcasing photographers from varied backgrounds and presenting a mosaic of different subjects and personal narratives. A notable highlight is Philippa James’ “Tik Tok” trilogy capturing teenage girls in a way that feels almost invasive of their space, with one of the subjects engagingly meeting the viewer’s gaze. These images evoke a poignant sense of girlhood and humanity, drawing immediate attention upon entering the gallery.

One commendable aspect is the use of gaps in the walls, creating a window-like effect that allows viewers on one side of the wall to observe the viewers on the other side, in a way that feels personal. The smart use of the gallery space seems to push visitors to both observe and become real-life subjects for each other. This design choice enhances the immersive experience, directing focus to the humanity within the scenes portrayed both in the photographs and in real life.

A drawback of this curation of photographs, however, surfaces in the difficulty of contextualising the photos solely based on their compositions. While aesthetically pleasing, the need to refer to accompanying descriptions for deeper understanding hinders a seamless connection with the photographs.

Nevertheless, one way or another, the photographs exhibited manage to capture diverse stories and creative compositions and the exhibition showcases a worthwhile exploration of contemporary portraiture. The exhibition will be on display until 25th February 2024.