Martin Parr's photographs at the Jeu de Paume

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (taken at the International Financial Centre, Dubai) 2007 

English photographer Martin Parr (1952-2025) did his own thing. From an early age he was interested in photography and despite his teachers' lack of enthusiasm, over fifty five years he created a fascinating body of work with his own stamp on it. He recorded global clichés and everyday excesses. A selection of his photos is being shown at the Jeu de Paume gallery this spring. With his wry sense of humour, he captured quirky behaviour and oddities:

Venice Beach, California, U.S.A.  1998

At one time he was accused by some members of the most prestigious Magnum agency of sneering at the working classes from a middle class point of view, but his original style eventually prevailed and he became a full member, then president of the agency from 2013 to 2017. His photos often have lots of points of interest in them: 

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain  1993

The exhibition notes describe him as a relentless and amused observer. He follows in a tradition of British satirists, pointing out, for example, the excesses of consumerism and the ridiculousness in life, as in his many beach scenes:     

Mar del Plata, Argentina  2014 

In 2021 Martin Parr stated:

"I'm creating entertainment, which has a serious message if you want to read into it, but I don't expect to change anyone's mind- I'm just showing them what they think they may know already."

His sardonic scenes of English beaches are the opposite of tourist publicity:

New Brighton, England, United Kingdom  1983-1985

He didn't have many seaside holidays as a child as his parents were bird-watchers, so he made up for it later, documenting almost all the resorts in Britain and many abroad. He enjoyed creating stories out of images. Martin Parr had a talent for capturing a scene with amusing contrasts:

Pyramids, Gizeh. Egypt  1992

Whether it be a man attending to his car engine as tourists are photographed in front of an Egyptian pyramid, or the incongruous sight of a cow on a beach in Goa, his attitude is whimsical and his pictures tell a story: 

Goa, India  1993

During a fashion shoot in the South of France, he found a good subject for Gucci sunglasses, which he subtitled "Orange lady". In the photobiography compiled by journalist Wendy Jones and himself, he describes this picture as "strong and punchy- a good stab at subversion." He wanted to point out that it's often only older wealthy ladies who can afford to buy Gucci:

Gucci Cruise. Cannes, France  2018

He said he liked the colours of kitsch. He also did a major job in recording the soap opera of life.  He sometimes had trouble getting his subjects to be natural and not smile for the camera. Often he hung around for a long time hoping to capture an original scene.

On the subject of travel, he captured this uninspiring scene in Rome airport:

Rome, Italy  2024

The humour comes through in the following cosy scene representing Edinburgh, tartan chairs and artificial flames included:

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom  2018

Martin Parr's travels took him all around the world capturing his simple but pithy images.  His works are an important record of his times. The following two photos were taken in the United States. At the grand canyon he captures an interesting back view of three people:

 

Grand Canyon, Arizona, U.S.A.  1994

Is the next photo per chance a comment on the pharmaceutical industry in the States? In any case, it's an interesting little slice of life:

New Jersey, United States  1998

Parr's wry comments on his native England include a photo of a jumble sale in a Methodist church hall in Walsall. In his blog entitled "Too much photography", his comment on the scene was: 

"I often wonder why people buy souvenirs when they are so patently useless. The urge to buy souvenirs seems second only to the compulsion to take photographs."

It's true- many of us have observed the clutter of extraneous objects purchased then discarded at such charity fairs. Parr's photos encourage us to take a critical look at our own lives and foibles.

However, in the case of Martin Parr, none of his photos seems extraneous.

Martin Parr Exhibition "Global Warning" 

at the Jeu de Paume gallery, 

Tuileries gardens.

Metro: Concorde

From 30th January until 24th May, 2026

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