Martin Parr Bristol photo exhibition now open through 27 Nov

31/08/2011

Categories: Official press releases

Bristol’s new city history museum will kick off its exhibition programme with a major retrospective photographic exhibition by one of Britain’s foremost photographers, Martin Parr. The exhibition takes place at M Shed from Wednesday, August 31 to Sunday, November 27, 2011.

"Bristol and West: Photography by Martin Parr" will feature 60 images selected from the last thirty years of Martin Parr’s career and will run from Wednesday, August 31 to Sunday, November 27, 2011. The exhibition will be located in M Shed’s new, purpose built,state-of-the-art temporary exhibition gallery on the top floor of the museum and will be the largest exhibition of photographs by Martin Parrheld in the city since his Home Sweet Home exhibition at the Arnolfini 1974. 

How people live, how they present themselves and their values

Bristol and West showcases images that focus on his continual interest in how people live, how they present themselves and their values. Parr’s images are immediately accessible and entertaining. They are both affectionate and critical, capturing the world as he sees it and not how people might expect it to be. Martin Parr is an also an obsessive collector of postcards, photography books and political ephemera, photography to him is just another form of collecting.

Martin Parr has lived in Bristol since 1987 and this exhibition contains an eclectic mix of photographs, including: Cost of Living; AYear in the life of an English Village and images of Bristolian’scelebrating big events.

"Ordinary people doing ordinary things"

Parr is interested in ‘ordinary people doing ordinary things’, a reason behind why it took six years to be accepted into Magnum, theworld’s most prestigious photographic agency who are more renowned for capturing significant world events.

Martin Parr, says: “To be the first exhibitor in M Shed’s new exhibition space is special. I hope visitors will enjoy the exhibition and perhaps see a link between my images and the essence of what M Shed is all about: local people; their unique lives and the individual personal stories behind their lives.”

Councillor Simon Cook, Bristol’s deputy leader and executive member for culture, added: “I’m delighted ‘Bristol and West: Photography by Martin Parr’ will be our opening exhibition. Martin Parr’s photography is enjoyed around the world and it’s fitting his first major exhibition in Bristol for nearly 30 years should be at M Shed.”

As part of the Bristol and West exhibition, visitors to M Shed will be invited to select their favourite images from the show. The most popular photographs chosen from the 60 images displayed will then become part of the M Shed’s permanent art collection. Visitors will be able to cast their vote inside the exhibition as well as through links on the M Shed website: www.mshed.org

The exhibition will be accompanied by a programme of events, including an in-conversation with Martin Parr on Tuesday 11 October at 7pm.

Bristol and West: Photography by Martin Parr 
Wednesday 31 August - Sunday 27 November 2011

M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road Bristol BS1 4RN 
www.mshed.org 
0117 352 6600

Opening hours:
Tuesday - Friday 10am-5pm
Weekends 10am- 6pm
Free entry

More information about M Shed

Situated in the heart of Bristol’s historic harbourside, M Shed is the city’s flagship museum, featuring three main galleries, ‘Bristol Places’, ‘Bristol People’ and ‘Bristol Life’ and a temporary exhibition space. The £27m project has funded by Bristol City Council and a grant of £11.6m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and funding from DCMS and a range of individuals, companies and trusts.

Internationally-renowned architects LAB Architecture Studios developed the design for the new museum. They have preserved the existing architectural footprint and 1950s dockside façade within their design.

Over 90 original sliding doors have been restored and returned to M Shed, maintaining the unique external character of the dockside building. A third floor has been added which will house a temporary exhibition gallery and an event suite with stunning and unparalleled panoramic views across the city that is available for hire.

 

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