INSPIRATION
A Curious World: Martin Parr’s Most Iconic Projects
MARTIN PARR
“Most times, it’s just a lot easier not to let the world know what’s wrong.” ― Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters
A few decades ago, Martin Parr chose to let the world know exactly what was wrong with it, even if this is much harder than looking at things the other way. Ever since, he has used photography to reveal modern society’s issues, such as excessive consumption of everything from goods to activities to technologies, the homogenizing effects of globalization such as the loss of cultural identity, and everyday peculiarities, ironies and otherwise wry human traits.
But Parr’s documentary approach is anything but judgmental. He does thorough research for each project, travels intensively, and looks for unusual juxtapositions and perspectives. He infuses his work with details and humour, but most of all, he lures us in with kindness. Because if you think Parr’s work is not about you, you couldn’t be more wrong. It is. And to allow yourself to be vulnerable and open to criticism is not a task that can be done without kindness. Thus, the photographer provides all the tools you need to let the visual information get through and make a change: curiosity, humour, and kindness.
We are happy to have Martin Parr as the judge for our October 2023 competition, Humans of the World. He is not only a renowned photographer but also a curator and professor of photography, and his works have been exhibited around the world, featured in magazines, and published in books – all in quantities too numerous to mention. Parr easily combines art photography with journalism, advertising, and filmmaking. But regardless of his choice of medium and style, he remains a loyal and curious observer of human nature. Check out four of his most iconic projects that stand the test of time.
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF CHEW STOKE VILLAGE (1992)
Commissioned by Telegraph Magazine in 1992, A Year in the Life of Chew Stoke Village is a social documentary photo series featuring a small English village – Chew Stoke, situated on the outskirts of Bristol. Parr turned his lens to the everyday lives of its inhabitants but also to local events and traditions. He immersed himself in the atmosphere, spotted patterns, revealed characters, and transformed mundane items into art objects.
Colorful and whimsical, the photographs have something of P.G. Wodehouse’s perspective of the English countryside. The dynamic of generations, the things that will never change, and the occupations that will never go out of style offer a glimpse into the life of a community that values human connection. Times may be changing, but a cup of tea and some cake will always warm your heart and remind you that life is beautiful when you know where to look for the cricket balls.
FULL ENGLISH, MARTIN PARR IN DORSET (1999)
Published in Sleazenation Magazine in August 1999, Full English, Martin Parr in Dorset is another photo series dedicated to the English lifestyle. As a full member of Magnum Photographic Cooperative, by 1999 Parr was already famous for his portrayal of wars and remote cultures. He could have chosen any theme for a series, but he chose to focus on those tiny details that make all the difference and make his heart sing.
Parr loves a weekend at the seaside, with the enthusiastic characters that populate the English beaches, the street vendors, the colors that resemble postcards, and the infinite weekend indulgence. He doesn’t have to travel across the world to find authenticity and uniqueness, interesting perspectives, or seductive cultural landscapes. All he has to do is what he loves the most: look and photograph.
DEATH BY SELFIE (2019)
The subject of a recent book, Death by Selfie is a photo series Parr dedicates to the culture of selfie – an act so prominent these days that it’s surprising to remind ourselves that the term was only well-used enough to be added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013. With his keen eye for detail, playful compositions, and ability to capture the story behind the moment, Parr shows us how we look when we forget about the outside world for sake of a selfie. While it may be funny to see other people take selfies and easy to judge them, the artistic intention is to convince you to look inward and recognize your own flaws and bad habits.
In Death by Selfie, Parr captures something truly relevant to our culture, and that is how important it is to us how we are perceived by other people. The stunning landscape or thousands of years of culture behind us is nothing compared to the fact that we were there for a short period of time. We are desperate for attention, reassurance, and recognition. Looking at Parr’s photographs, one can easily ask where this disconnect comes from. And that’s the magic of Parr’s work: on the surface it seems like its about other people, but it’s actually about you.
MALAGA EXPRESS (2023)
Southern Spain is a popular holiday destination, but once there, people generally only see leisure opportunities. Most of the time we overlook centuries of history and traditions, distinctive architecture, and local flavours. Malaga Express is a photo series Parr dedicates to the eclectic atmosphere of today’s Malaga. It’s a mix of local colors and touristic vibes, of people pouring their hearts and souls into their community and people looking absently for the next entertainment, of art and hospitality industry.
Like all of Parr’s work, Malaga Express uses bright colors, dynamic compositions, peculiar juxtapositions, and unique angles. His photographs make you look twice, three times, four times, and so on, each time revealing layer after layer of meaning. Parr’s social documentary style continues to surprize and impress.
All images © Martin Parr.
