To say Martin Parr takes pretty pictures of ugly stuff would be a gross oversimplification of the man’s work. But it’s also kinda true. His favorite subjects are the things most of us make an effort to ignore: greasy food, tacky clothes, plastic tchotchkes...the disposable crap that matters little, yet means so much in this 21-century consumer culture of ours. Whether his pictures are meant to celebrate or deprecate our current state of affairs is up to the viewer to decide. (Though we’ve got a strange feeling it’s both). “Mexico” is a beautifully photographed, wonderfully fun book filled with Parr’s signature shots: exploding with color, extremely close-up, and revealing in more ways than one. Hardcover, 11.75" x 8.25", 88 pgs, 81 color. |
