MEXICO. Chichen Itza. 2002.
No one is better at capturing the idiosyncrasies and peculiarities of human nature than Martin Parr. The revered British photographer’s work celebrates the strange moments in the everyday—from luminously-tanned seaside sun-worshippers, to supermarket check-outs queues, bored couples sitting opposite each other, not to mention, the new autumn cover of SLEEK. Following the National Portrait Gallery’s extensive exhibition of Parr’s work, Only Human, earlier this year, Parr’s photography is on display again, this time at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf. Until 10 November, viewers can experience the most comprehensive Parr retrospective to date, with over 400 works on display.
Martin Parr at the Martin Parr Retrospektive 2019, NRW Forum Düsseldorf. Photograph courtesy of NRW-Forum Düsseldorf. Photography by Katja Illner.
From a middle-aged couple standing mawkishly in swimming-costumes with interlocked little fingers, to a bearded man in a hat, proudly upright against a sunflower his own height—Parr’s photographs are cheery and charming. Spanning Parr’s entire career, the exhibition showcases photographs from his most famous series, including The Last Resort, The Cost of Living, Think of England, and Life’s A Beach, as well as early images from his debut series, Bad Weather. Parr’s recent series Kleingärtner will also be on display—a collection of images Parr shot in the greater Düsseldorf area. Backdropped by gardening allotments, the photographs are a joyful mass of colourful flowers and beaming gardeners—typically Parr.
See more from the exhibition below:
Martin Parr Retrospective runs through 10 November at NRW-Forum Düsseldorf.