British photographer Martin Parr (b.1952) has always polarised the critical establishment. Personally, I am a fan (and not just because this image - from the 1995-1999 Common Sense series looks just like my best friend Cara). Eventually, after much toing and froing and significant and vociferous protest, Parr was admitted to the pantheon of full Magnum membership in 1994. His sly, wry documentary - spying on his countrymen at play, dissecting the phenomenon that is mass market tourism - is feted on the Continent and in the US, yet slightly sniffed at back home. Robert Sandall captures the paradox well in the following piece which appeared in the Sunday Times on 20th April 2008.20 April, 2008
Martin Parr - Jester or Genius?
British photographer Martin Parr (b.1952) has always polarised the critical establishment. Personally, I am a fan (and not just because this image - from the 1995-1999 Common Sense series looks just like my best friend Cara). Eventually, after much toing and froing and significant and vociferous protest, Parr was admitted to the pantheon of full Magnum membership in 1994. His sly, wry documentary - spying on his countrymen at play, dissecting the phenomenon that is mass market tourism - is feted on the Continent and in the US, yet slightly sniffed at back home. Robert Sandall captures the paradox well in the following piece which appeared in the Sunday Times on 20th April 2008.
