Seriously Funny

Martin Parr is best known for his unmistakable perspective on the facets of everyday life and his astute visual commentary on consumer culture. Vibrant colours, and often humorous interpretations of ordinary scenes characterise the British Magnum photographer’s work, as he spotlights the absurdities of modern life without ever veering into artifice or nostalgia.

The images currently shown at the Leica Gallery Frankfurt include some of the artist’s most iconic works – such as the woman relaxing on a lawn, her face concealed by a British flag, or the postcard of a crowded beach, with price-tag stuck right across the depicted scene. Equally characteristic is his composition of a swan looking straight into the camera as if it was striking a pose.

The exhibition vividly illustrates Parr’s gift for capturing everyday moments in a way that reveals their subtle absurdities. His intentionally amplified images inevitably elicit a smile – but they also invite the viewer to look beyond the scene itself and reflect on the complex, sometimes contradictory aspects of modern life.