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Parr, Martin (Photographer) & Winchester, Simon (Contributor).
SMALL WORLD: A GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT 1987-1994.
Rome, Italy:
Peliti Associati,
1995.
Hardcover.
First Edition/First Printing.
68 pages.
Fine/Fine.
Signed. Exhibition monograph. Collection of "tourist" photographs. One of Martin Parr's most influential titles, it is now considered a contemporary photography classic. The first appearance of the title in Italy, which was published simultaneously with the First British Edition. Unlike the latter, it was not sold commercially and is now rare. A handsome production by Martin Parr and Alan Ward, Axis Design Manchester: Oversize-volume format in oblong shape. Maroon hard boards with gray titles on cover and spine, as issued. Photographs by Martin Parr. Essay, "Small World", by Simon Winchester. Printed on thick coated stock paper in Rome, Italy to the highest standards. In white pictorial DJ, which features one of the finest images in the book, and titles on the cover and spine, as issued. Published on the occasion of the exhibition of the same name held at the Todi Palazzo delle Arti Roma from June 18 through July 16, 1995. The show travelled on to Turin in September/October 1995. The Italian exhibitions represent the only such public events devoted to the collection. Presents one of the photographer's defining works: Photographs of tourists, especially tourist/photographers, who may be "amateurs", but whom Martin Parr regards with ambivalence and affection because he himself began his career as a photographer for tourists visiting the United Kingdom. By 1995, tourism had become the single biggest and most profitable industry in the world, a far cry from the innocent world of Parr's Butlin Holiday Camp days. One of the earliest and most popular uses of photography was to document travel. The Japanese tourist may be instantly recognizable, armed with two cameras, one on each arm, but the truth is that for tourists, it has always been unthinkable to travel without bringing a camera along. As Susan Sontag noted in her great book, "On Photography", the camera inevitably became the central point of travel: Picture-taking superseded all other activities as tourists wanted to make sure they took as many "beautiful" pictures as possible to bring back home as trophies (and as proof) of their travels abroad. This is why the most poignant and most powerful photographs in Parr's collection are of people posing for a camera other than Martin Parr's and simultaneously, of Martin Parr taking pictures of them in the act of posing and being photographed. This "doubling" effect is charming at first glance, unsettling upon closer inspection, and quite disturbing in the end: "Looks at tourism worldwide from the overcrowding of famous locations whose success in attracting visitors ultimately diminishes the quality of the visitor's experience, to the inevitable culture clashes as developing countries become tourist destinations. Small World's citizens become a symbol of society's prosperous freedoms, declaring their power and their rights to travel, to choose, and to consume" (Publisher's blurb). One of his most important achievements, this is a "must-have" title for Martin Parr collectors. This copy is prominently and beautifully signed in black pen on the title page by Martin Parr. This is an Import title, has been out-of-print for some time, and is now highly collectible. This is the only copy of the First Italian Edition available online and is in fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. The print run of the Italian was much smaller than the British Edition. A rare signed copy thus. 68 color plates. The most influential and most important living British photographer. A fine collectible copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER MARTIN PARR TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 8885121330. $300.00 |
