photo © Paul Tucker courtesy Rocket Gallery, London
19 November 2009 - 31 January 2010
Guest Contribution by Pascal Panagiotidis
No introduction is needed for Yatzer's favorite gallery. Rocket gallery's latest exhibition gives us more than one good reason to host it once more. Martin Parr was presented there for first time twelve years ago and Rocket counts eight exhibitions of this great photographer already, the last one coinciding with the gallery’s fifteenth anniversary.
Jonathan Stephenson/ Rocket is proud to present 25 years of photography - from 1974 to 2009 – through a retrospective of books and editioned photographs. This is a long journey and there is no better moment than now to group Parr’s work in one book. Rocket announced the Parrbooks publication, a bibliography that presents all of Martin Parr’s books throughout his career.
photo © Paul Tucker courtesy Rocket Gallery, London
Martin Parr’s is not an ordinary photographer and therefore his work offers a different but unique perspective. This unusual perspective was one of the reasons to make his entrance to Magnum agency a real challenge. Parr's world as well as his perspective were so different from Magnum's standards back in 1994, that his application raised many objections on behalf of the agency's conservative part. However Parr's excellence and quality overwhelmed any obstacles and finally became member of one of the world's most prestigious Photographic agencies.
Martin Parr // Luxury Series
Photograph Martin Parr // Magnum, courtesy of Rocket Gallery, London
Famous for penetrating in the private life of his subjects Martin Parr manages to expose them in every detail bringing up a different image of our society. His decision to jump from white black to color back in the ‘80s was a move that meant to become one of his most characteristic marks. His sparkling colors make the picture speak for itself whilst the unusual approach of his subjects is a way to express the artist’s humoristic, ironic and sometimes sarcastic mood. Martin Parr’s eye manages to focus on our day to day lives where everyone of us becomes a shooting star. But behind the scenes there is a moment when each one of us can indentify shots of his own life, moments to be proud or embarrassed. Martin Parr’s world is a deforming mirror where what we see depends on what we are willing to accept.
photo © Paul Tucker courtesy Rocket Gallery, London
Martin Parr was born in Epsom, Surrey, UK, in 1952. He was interested in discovering the photography world since he was a little boy and his grandfather George Parr was the one to encourage him and a great influence. He studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic, from 1970 to1973 and he became a member of Magnum Photographic Corporation in 1994. Famous for his images of working class seaside scenes he has also been involved in other areas such as fashion and TV. Martin Parr has been appointed Professor of Photography at The University of Wales Newport campus. He has been awarded the Erich Salomon and the Baume et Mercier prizes among others. In 2008 Martin Parr was guest curator at New York Photo Festival and will be curating the Brighton Photo Biennial in Oct 2010. Parrworld exhibition is currently touring Europe featuring all his collections including his new luxury projects.
Martin Parr, reprospective of books
19 November 2009 - 31 January 2010
Rocket Gallery // Tea Building 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E16JJ UK
