Martin Parr Article.

This was for the November 2009 edition of the Newcastle Journal's culture supplement.

With a career that has spanned thirty five years, causing countless imitations and undeniably influencing many since, internationally renowned photographer Martin Parr has decided to take his latest exhibition to the Baltic gallery in Gateshead. Having integrated into all photographic mediums including film, books and major exhibitions, Parr’s diversity has owed to his success, and his latest exhibition is no exception.  A mixture of curation, collection and his own work, PARRWORLD features the work of other artists such as Richard Billingham, David Goldblatt and local Mark Neville amongst others, as well as Parr’s own personal collection of ephemera including strange collectable items, spice girls paraphernalia and over 200,000 postcards. 

Over the years Parr has become known for his ironic depiction of class and the display of wealth, mass consumerism and cultural eccentricities. Also concentrating on the themes of tourism and leisure, mundanities and seemingly non significant cultural tokens become alien and bizarre when presented as part of Parr’s odd photographic landscape. Vivid colours are used to capture images that are part of our cultural identity and integral to the British psyche, from the British seaside to a cup of tea; the deliciously garish colours Parr chooses make the British commonplace pop out and seem vibrant, iconic and exciting. For his latest series, the aptly named Luxury, the artist travelled the world in order to observe the cultural differences in the way that people display status and wealth. The scenes vary from the Northumbrian Plate to Moscow, Dubai and Beijing, all conveying the humour and wry wit for which Parr’s work is celebrated.

Having studied in Manchester and becoming first known for his black and white depiction of northern England in his debut photographic book Bad Weather, it is fitting that a photographer hailing from the north has decided to give young adults from Newcastle Gateshead the chance to investigate their own secret corner of the city. The “show us a secret” brief tied in nicely with Parr’s tongue in cheek sentiments, enabling the entrants to convey their own Parr-esque perspective in their final images. Perhaps originating from his observations of the north, but not exclusive to it, Parr captures the ordinary in a charmingly oblique way, finding the humour in our native cultural quirks.

As well as being featured in this article, the six finalists have been offered the opportunity to be exhibited in the Baltic’s Quay, also being granted access to the preview of PARRWORLD at the Baltic this October.