‘So much joy': show brings Martin Parr's low-key visits to Bristol Pride to light
He is best known for his images of Britons at the seaside and candid shots of the working class, but a new exhibition by the photographer Martin Parr focuses on the annual Pride event in his adopted home city of Bristol.
Parr has spent years discreetly attending Bristol Pride, capturing photographs of people parading and protesting, but most of all enjoying themselves at the event, one of the biggest of its kind in the UK.
A selection of his photographs are being shown at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, where Parr will appear this week to promote the show.
Parr told the Guardian he first went to Bristol Pride in the 1980s but started attending more regularly over the past few years. Asked why it was such a good subject, he said: 'People dress up in the rainbow colours, you get some great placards, what's not to like?' He said he had shot Pride events in Manchester and the Isle of Wight. 'Bristol is more lively and quite cosmopolitan.'
Though he has lived in Bristol since the 1980s, for years he did not take many photographs in the city. 'I told myself, when I am home in Bristol I should rest.' But he is making up for that now. 'About five years ago, I said: 'I must shoot Bristol.' I had been missing out. How stupid can you be?'
Daryn Carter, the director of Bristol Pride, took his first look at the exhibition with the Guardian and was clearly thrilled at the show.
'It's amazing when you come around the corner and see them,' he said. 'The colour really grabbed my attention and then the images – just incredible. Pride is something that is so special and the parade and the festival itself brings so much joy and celebration and I can see that in this room.'
Carter said Parr had never made a fuss of attending the event. 'I remember spotting Martin in the festival site, I think it was in 2018. I was just like: 'Is that Martin Parr?' And then we discovered obviously that he had been coming for a few years and we started to talk about the exhibition. We're so fortunate that Martin is so passionate and supportive.'
Carter picked out an image of a child on someone's shoulders holding a Bristol Pride flag. 'Especially with the current climate, I think of the younger generation as the hope for our future. Times are quite hard at the moment for the LGBTQ+ community and we want to ensure that Pride is an event that's open for everyone and that all ages come so that they can see and celebrate diversity and expression.'
Carter also highlighted a photo of a person carrying a sign reading: 'Trans. Here in 1969. Here in 2019. Here always.' Carter said: 'I think it's interesting because I think a lot of people think that trans and the gender debate is something that's new or it's just the current thing. But actually it's not. You know, trans people have always existed.'
Another eye-catching image is of a drag queen looking intently at a phone with a can of Blackthorn cider – a drink closely associated with south-west England – balanced in the crook of their elbow.
Carter said: 'Martin's got a very candid eye and he captures the behind-the-scenes and people enjoying and embracing the festival.'
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The free exhibition runs until 23 November.
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