Martin Parr’s striking portraits explore what it means to be British
The Surrey-born photographer Martin Parr’s images simultaneously celebrate people – their conformity and their eccentricity – and chronicle the essence of Britishness in a style that is entertaining and evocative. The sexagenarian’s philosophy of blending high and low culture takes centre-stage at the National Portrait Gallery, where a new exhibition, ‘Only Human: Martin Parr’, puts many of his works on public display for the first time.
Parr’s photographs are trigger-happy in their ability to induce a reaction, ranging from admiration and acceptance at one end to disapproval, even disappointment, at the other. Underlying every composition is a talent for capturing individuality in a thought-provoking way. Visitors are first drawn to Autoportraits – the product of many years spent travelling the world posing for semi-self-portraits in which Parr’s expression is unnervingly constant.
Another set of energetic portraits, Everybody Dance Now, celebrates dance as a great leveller. From a group of silver-haired ladies in Margate in 1986 to a scene of a dinner dance at The Savoy 30 years later, each work oozes a bubbly mix of movement and verve for life.
The scale of images, taken using telephoto lenses, in Beside the Seaside is a reminder of the diversity within Parr’s portfolio. And although the majority of subjects Parr photographs are unknown, one section of the exhibition is devoted to familiar personalities such as Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Grayson Perry.
Parr’s fascination with national identity has led him to observe and record a cross-section of British society. At the National Portrait Gallery, the resulting portraits, their trademark high-colour saturation explosively exposing character and physical detail, provide the opportunity to share in his obsession while drawing our own conclusions about the culture in which we live.
‘Only Human: Martin Parr’ is open until 27 May 2019 at the National Portrait Gallery, London.
