Island Life: Photographs from the Martin Parr Foundation
Opening 18 May 2021
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Bristol Photo Festival
Island Life draws upon photographs from the Martin Parr Foundation collection to show the changing fabric of our cities, society and collective identities. Focusing on post-war from the UK and Ireland, the exhibition will bring together images by over 60 photographers including Khali Ackford, Pogus Caesar, Elaine Constantine, Sian Davey, Chris Killip, David Hurn, Ken Grant, Karen Knorr, Markéta Luskačová, Graham Smith and Tom Wood. Collectively the images form a compelling study of national behaviour.
The exhibition includes photographs which document moments of historical significance including the poll tax riot, the Aberfan mine disaster and most recently, the BLM movement. Island Life traces the evolution of documentary photography in Britain, the photographers who influenced Parr and the younger generation he is influencing in turn.