Still Life and Play – Web

Martin Parr

At first glance it is hard to believe that Parr is a Magnum Photographer.  A far cry from Magnum’s classical photojournalism style, Parr’s work is often brash and confrontational. In his series “British Food”, Parr does not only capture highly coloured images of various food stuffs, but in the process he pokes fun at modern British culture. The foods he photographs are quintessentially British, but behind them is an underlying statement about our society.

This image for example, cupcakes in the traditional red white and blue, with little Union Jacks on, just in case the British theme was not apparent enough, are all about celebration. Celebration of what though? Perhaps just a celebration of being British! What is ironic to me is that celebration is marked with high sugar/high fat/high calorie treats. An indication maybe of the state of the country? The cupcakes themselves may be about celebration, but for me, the way Parr has framed the image makes the photograph about pure over-indulgence.

ArtSlant - Implications are Customary. 2012. ArtSlant - Implications are Customary. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.artslant.com/chi/articles/show/14710. [Accessed 23 April 2012].