90s Household Scenes In Martin Parr's Photography

By Silvia Baretta Last edited 116 months ago
90s Household Scenes In Martin Parr's Photography
G.B. ENGLAND.  To come home in the evenings to find the kids have carried out their own form of anarchy is just about the last thing I can face. 1991.
To come home in the evenings to find the kids have carried out their own form of anarchy is just about the last thing I can face, 1991. Copyright © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery
GB. ENGLAND. From 'Signs of the times'. "We thought we could make it look sort of bistro-y looking in the kitchen and then carry it through to the lounge". 1991.
We thought we could make it look sort of bistro-y looking in the kitchen and then carry it through to the lounge, 1991. Copyright © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery
GB. England. From ' Signs of the Simes'. 'We wanted a cottagey stately home kind of feel.' 1991.
We wanted a cottagey stately home kind of feel, 1991. Copyright © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery
GB. England. 'I don't think it's anything particularly forced on Deborah. We've just always enjoyed the same sort of things.' From 'Signs of the Times'. 1991.
I don’t think it’s anything particularly forced on Deborah. We’ve just always enjoyed the same sort of things, 1991. Copyright © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery
GB. England. 'We keep buying things thinking 'that'll look better' and it just doesn't.' from the book 'Signs Of The Times' 1991.
We keep buying things thinking ‘that’ll look better’ and it just doesn’t, 1991. Copyright © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery

Martin Parr's photography is realistic, still, impactful and a bit cheeky. He doesn't try to evoke remote scenery or deep artistic connections in his photos, he just depicts what he sees through his camera lens. Parr takes photos of everyday scenes, capturing people going about their business. What makes his photographs compelling is the choice of perspective, a simplicity of composition that actually hides life's complexity, and the colours he chooses to highlight.

He is a chronicler of our times and his talent is to show us everyday scenes from a totally new angle. His photographic skills are now on show at the Beetles+Huxley gallery in the Signs of the Times exhibition (organised in collaboration with the Rocket Gallery).

This uses visual material taken from a BBC documentary aired in the early 90s, called Signs of the Times, on which Parr collaborated. It was an early version of reality television, documenting the personal tastes of people in the British home during that period. A TV call for volunteers prompted over 2,000 responses, but only 50 were chosen to be featured. Parr was the stills photographer during the shooting of the documentary, hence the photographic collection on display now.

The photographs show home interiors, people posing in their living rooms and small details of furniture in-situ. We get a sense of oppression and of the boring routine inherent in these ordinary scenes. One common motif is a life trapped in the 'normality' of a domestic environment. Each photograph's title is a quote from someone featured in the documentary. The series is featured for the first time as a solo exhibition in London.

Martin Parr, Signs of the Times is on display until 30 August at Beetles+Huxley gallery, 3-5 Swallow Street, W1B 4DE. Entrance is free. For more art events this month, see our July art listing.

Last Updated 23 July 2014