Quentin Bajac, world recognized photo curator and Head of the
Photography Department at the Museum of Modern Art, Centre Georges
Pomidou in Paris had a conversation with photographer Martin Parr, which
set the chapter outline for this book.
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 granfather Geroge Parr, himself a keen amateur photographer.
Parr studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic, from 1970-1973.
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 Magnum Photographic Corporation. 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 Parr's work. This show toured Europe for the
next 5 years.
Parr was appointed Professor of Photography in 2004 at The University of
Wales Newport campus. He was Guest Artistic Director for Rencontres
D'Arles in 2004. In 2006 he was awarded the Erich Salomon Prize and the
resulting Assorted Cocktail show opened at Photokina. In 2008 he was
guest curator at the New York Photo Festival, curating the New
Typologies exhibition. At PhotoEspana, 2008, he won the Baume et Mercier
award in recognition of his professional career and contributions to
contemporary photography.
