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MARTIN PARR: Assorted Cocktail (10. 2. – 16. 5. 2011) EN

At the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art you can see an extensive exhibition of British documentary photographer Martin Parr, from February 10 to May 16, 2011. The exhibition tour introduces the most important cycles of Martin Parr´s work and in Prague is enriched by a selection of photographs from the latest project called Luxury (2009), videoprojections and a part of „Parrworld" – wide collection of objects and souvenirs.

The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art presents to the Czech audience the exhibition of the outstanding British documentary photographer, Martin Parr. A member of the prestigious agency Magnum Photos, he is one of the most highly respected and discussed contemporary artists who has influenced an entire generation of photographers.
His specific point of view, his gently ironic sense of hu¬mor and his use of intensely saturated colors, create the unmistakable signature style of this artist who operates on the borders of various genres. Parr is a successful photo¬journalist, but he also often works on conceptual projects, as well as fashion and commercial photography.

Parr initially became widely-known for his photographs from the 1980s depicting everyday life of the British mid¬dle class which provoked a wave of controversial reactions. Since the 1990s, his cooperation with Magnum Photos has allowed him to travel more extensively and to cover a broader range of themes beyond the borders of the United Kingdom. His photographs focus on the global issues of mass consumption, tourism and communication. He explores individual national characteristics and the increasing uni¬formity of today’s world. Parr’s concept of photography creates a new form of contemporary social-critical docu¬ment. “When people laugh and cry at the same time when looking at my pictures, that’s precisely the reaction the pic¬tures evoke in me. The things are neither fundamentally good, nor bad. I am always interested in portraying both ex¬tremes”. (M. Parr)

The Assorted Cocktail was presented for the first time at the Photokina Fair in Cologne, Germany in 2006 where the artist was awarded the Erich Salomon Prize. The exhibition represents Parr’s outstanding thematic cycles from the years 1983—2009, such as Last Resort, Small World, Bored Couples, Common Sense, Think of England along with the series Think of Germany, Knokke le Zoute, Mexico, Glasgow, Phone Project and the more recent Luxury cycle.

Martin Parr plays a significant role within a broader artistic context. During his career, he has published over sixty books and organised countless exhibitions of his own work. He continues to be a very active photographer. In ad¬dition, he makes documentary films and frequently serves as an editor and curator of other photographers’ work. Martin Parr is a passionate collector and owner of one of the largest collections of photographic books. He also col¬lects prints with particular emphasis on British photogra¬phers as well as postcards and ephemera. The exhibition in Prague is accompanied by various objects and souvenirs reflecting upon the social and political scene – such as a teapot in the shape of Margaret Thatcher´s head, watches with Saddam Hussein or a toilet paper with Osama bin Laden. Parr’s col¬lecting activity corresponds to his photography that he himself regards as a form of collecting.

Martin Parr was born in Epsom, Surrey, UK, in 1952. When he was a boy, his budding interest in the medium of photography was encouraged by his grandfather George Parr, himself a keen amateur photographer. Martin Parr studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic, from 1970 to 1973. Since that time, Martin Parr has worked on numerous photographic projects. He has developed an international reputation for his innovative imagery, his oblique approach to social documentary, and his input to photographic culture within the UK and abroad. In 1994 he became a full member of the prestigious Magnum Photos agency. In recent years, he has developed an interest in filmmaking, and has started to use his photography within different conventions, such as fashion and advertising. In 2002 the Barbican Art Gallery and the National Media Museum initiated a large retrospective of Martin Parr’s work. This show toured Europe for the next 5 years. Martin Parr was appointed Professor of Photography in 2004 at The University of Wales Newport campus. In the same year, he was Guest Artistic Director for Rencontres d’Arles. In 2006 he was awarded the Erich Salomon Prize and the resulting Assorted Cocktail show opens at Photokina. In 2008 he was guest curator at New York Photo Festival, curating the New Typologies exhibition. At PhotoEspaña 2008, he wins the Baume et Mercier award in recognition of his professional career and contributions to contemporary photography. Martin Parr curated the Brighton Photo Biennial that took place in October 2010.

For more information follow www.dox.cz or www.martinparr.com (we reccomend to read FAQ at the CV section at M. Parr´s webpage)

Publication
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue with selected photographs from the sections shown at the exhibition. (190 CZK)

Lecture by M. Parr
The author will give a lecture at DOX on February 10, 2011 at 6 pm.
Reservations at tereza@dox.cz
For current accompanying programs please folow the website www.dox.cz
Programs to the exhibitions usually take place on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Photos to downoload at www.mediareport.cz
© Martin Parr / Magnum Photos

The exhibition was prepared in cooperation with Magnum Photos agency.

DOX Partners:
Zdeněk Bakala, Hlavní město Praha, TECHO, a.s., Premiant City Tour s.r.o., Poster Infinity s.r.o.

The DOX program is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.

DOX Media Partners:
Hospodářské noviny, Prague Events Calendar


CONTACTS:
DOX Centre for Contemporary Art
Office
Osadní 34, 170 00 Praha 7
E: info@dox.cz, T: +420 224 930 927
Exhibition room
Poupětova 1a, 170 00 Praha 7

www.dox.cz
www.facebook.com/DOXPrague.cz

Contact for editors
Mediareport, s.r.o., www.mediareport.cz
Terezie Kaslová, T: +420 603 551 372
E: kaslova@mediareport.cz or media@dox.cz





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