Martin Parr

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For Martin Parr, Governor of the Upper Nile and Equatoria provinces of the Sudan, see Martin Willoughby Parr.

Martin Parr (born 1952) is a British documentary photographer and photojournalist. His photographic projects take a critical look at modern society, specifically consumerism, foreign travel and tourism, motoring, family and relationships, and food.

Parr is probably best known for his photography at New Brighton, Merseyside in the 1980s. His use of high saturation colour in photography produces some, at first glance boring and subdued images, though when you look a little deeper into them and the history behind them they are highly profound.

His satirical, witty approach to documentary photography leaves the viewer not sure whether to laugh or cry. A prime example of this is his book titled 'Sign of the Times', in which he entered peoples houses (an Englishman's castle) and photographs the ordinary, though he also combines the image with a quote from the owners. when this is done you gain a whole new appreciation for the images. His photos are often taken using macro lenses and ring flash as well as high-saturation colour film. His works are both embarrassing for the subjects, often the British and working class, as well as entertaining for the viewers.[1]

He has had almost 50 books published, and featured in around 80 exhibitions worldwide - including an exhibition in London at the Barbican Arts Centre. Parr is also a member of the Magnum Photos Agency since 1994. [1]

Since the 1970s Parr has collected and publicised the garish postcards made between the 1950s and 1970s by John Hinde and his team of photographers. The images made by Hinde and his team are a key influence on Parr's colour photography.

He also directed the film, It's Nice Up North with comedian Graham Fellows as his character John Shuttleworth. The film is a comic documentary filmed over several years in Shetland and was released in 2006.

In some of his recent work, Parr has collaborated with designer Paul Smith in Ilford to photograph real people sporting Smith's Autumn/Winter 07 collection. The images reveal Parr's honest and straightforward approach to photography. www.wallpaper.com

For his books, The Photobook: A History, Volume 1 and The Photobook: A History, Volume II, Parr collaborated with critic Gerry Badger. The project took them eight years. [1]

[edit] Books

This list is incomplete.

  • Bad Weather. London: Zwemmer, 1982. ISBN 0302999965
  • A Fair Day: Photographs from the West Coast of Ireland. Salem House, 1984. ISBN 0907797105
  • Last Resort: Photographs of New Brighton. Dewi Lewis, 1986.
  • One Day Trip. Editions de la différence, Pas-de-Calais, 1989.
  • The Cost of Living. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. ISBN 0893814393. Cornerhouse, 1989. ISBN 094879755X
  • Signs of the Times: A Portrait of the Nation's Tastes. Cornerhouse, 1992.
  • Bored Couples. Paris: Gallery du Jour, 1993.
  • Home and Abroad. London: Jonathan Cape, 1994. ISBN 0224031325
  • From A to B: Tales of Modern Motoring. BBC Books. ISBN 0563369841
  • Small World: A global photographic project 1987–1994. Stockport, Cheshire: Dewi Lewis, 1995. ISBN 1899235051
  • West Bay. Rocket Press, 1997.
  • Food. Galerie Agnès B, 1998.
  • Japonais Endormis. Galerie Agnès B, 1998. ISBN 2906496294
  • Common Sense. Dewi Lewis, 1999. ISBN 1899235078
  • Sguardigardesani. Milan, Charta, 1999.
  • Benidorm. Sprengel museum Hannover, 1999. ISBN 3891691459.
  • Boring Photographs. 2000. (Photographs of Boring, Oregon: not postcards.)
  • Think of England. Phaidon. Hardback, 2000. ISBN 0714839914. Paperback, 2004. ISBN 0714844543
  • Flowers. Munkedals: Munken & Trebruk, 1999. Galerie Du Jour Agnès B, 2001.
  • Cherry Blossom Time in Tokyo. 2001.
  • Martin Parr. London: Phaidon. Hardback, 2002. ISBN 0714839906. Paperback, 2005.
  • Martin Parr. Portfolio. Te Neues. ISBN 3570194450
  • Tutta Roma. Contrasto, 2007. ISBN 8869650162
  • The Phone Book: 1998-2002. Rocket Press, 2002. ISBN 0946676534. ISBN 3980664724.
  • Martin Parr Postcards. London: Phaidon, 2003. ISBN 0714843458
  • Mexico. London: Chris Boot, 2006. ISBN 0954689488.
  • Fashion Magazine. ISBN 9782952410205.
  • Fashion Newspaper. Tokyo, 2007. Published to accompany an exhibition.
  • Autoportrait. Stockport, Cheshire: Dewi Lewis, 2000. ISBN 1899235728
  • From Our House to Your House: Celebrating the American Christmas. Stockport, Cheshire: Dewi Lewis, 2002. ISBN 1899235345
  • Boring Postcards. London: Phaidon, 1999. Hardback ISBN 0714838950. Paperback ISBN 0714843903)
  • Boring Postcards USA. London: Phaidon, 2000. Hardback ISBN 0714840009. Paperback ISBN 0714843911
  • Langweilige Postkarten. London: Phaidon. ISBN 0714840629.
  • Saddam Hussein Watches. London, 2004.
  • David Goldblatt: Photographs. Milan: Contrasto. ISBN 8869650154
  • Our True Intent Is All for Your Delight: The John Hinde Butlin's Photographs. London: Chris Boot, 2002. ISBN 0954281306
  • Bliss: Postcards of Couples and Families. Chris Boot, 2003. ISBN 0954281330
  • The Photobook: A History. (with Gerry Badger) London: Phaidon.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Robert Ayers (November 15, 2006), Martin Parr, ARTINFO, <http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/24111/martin-parr/>. Retrieved on 23 April 2008 

[edit] External links