Photographer’s pictures show 21st century Britain in all its glory

Bulldogs, beaches and balls: Photographer’s brilliant pictures show 21st century Britain in all its glorious eccentricity in new exhibition

• Photographs show Brits enjoying national pasttimes such as visiting the beach and enjoying sporting events
• Fascinating collection has been collated by Martin Parr across the width and breadth of the UK in last 20 years
• The images present for the first time several of Parr’s new bodies of work, including ‘Britain at a Time of Brexit’
• He also explored some of the bastions of the British Establishment, such as Oxford and Cambridge University

A fascinating collection of images which captures 21st century Britain in all its glorious eccentricity is to go on exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

Photographer Martin Parr travelled the width and breadth of the UK over the past 20 years in a bid to display Brits enjoying national pasttimes such as visiting the beach, enjoying sporting events and socialising with loved ones.

The photos, which are also being released as part of the book Only Human, present for the first time several of Parr’s new bodies of work, including ‘Britain at a Time of Brexit’.

During this assignment, Parr sought to document the spirit of modern Britain immediately before and after the Brexit referendum of 2016, with a particular focus on areas with high concentration of ‘Leave’ voters.

At the same time, Parr has explored some of the bastions of the British ‘Establishment’, gaining access to The City of London, Oxford and Cambridge Universities and schools such as Harrow.

His images of ordinary people at home and abroad are joined by group portraits of British club members and hobbyists, in a collection that offers a photographer’s insight into contemporary British politics and culture.

A photograph from the Magdalene Ball in Cambridge, England in 2015. The lavish black tie ball is the biggest event of the Cambridge University student social calendar and marks the end of their exams, allowing stressed-out youngsters to let off some steam in style

Shown left is a portrait of designer Vivienne Westwood in London in 2012, while right is a picture taken on St George’s Day in West Bromwich in 2017. During his assignment, Parr sought to document the spirit of modern Britain immediately before and after the Brexit referendum of 2016, with a particular focus on areas with high concentration of ‘Leave’ voters

A photograph of Parr’s that shows families enjoying the sea and sand at Porthcurno in Cornwall, England in 2017. Parr travelled the width and breadth of the UK over the past 20 years in a bid to display Brits enjoying national pasttimes such as visiting the beach, enjoying sporting events and socialising with loved ones

As well as capturing ordinary people going about their normal lives during his assignment, Parr also documented the movements of some of the country’s most famous inhabitants. Show here is the Queen visiting the Livery Hall of the Drapers’ Livery Company for their 650th Anniversary in  the City of London in 2014

The Perry Family – daughter Florence, mother Philippa and father Grayson – are pictured left, in London in 2012. Shown right is Mary Lynn Myrke at a gay pride march in Georgia, USA, in 2010. The exhibition ‘observes how we construct our identities through the clothes we wear, the things we buy, the traditions we follow or the rituals in which we partake’

A photograph taken by Parr in Sorrento, Italy in 2014 captures beachgoers as some embrace on their beach towels or soak up the sun’s rays

The collection of photographs includes those taken both in Britain and during his travels abroad. Shown left is two women at the Durban July races in South Africa in 2005, while the picture on the right, which is also on the cover of the book, features a woman on the beach with her pet dog in Nice, France, in 2015

• Only Human: Martin Parr is at the National Portrait Gallery from March 7 to May 27, 2019, www.npg.org.uk. The accompanying book Only Human by Martin Parr is published by Phaidon (phaidon.com)

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