A group of twelve A2 photography students recently visited Manchester Art Gallery to attend an illustrated talk presented by renowned photographer Martin Parr, who is curating an exhibition at the gallery entitled ‘Strange and Familiar: Britain as revealed by International Photographers.’ The exhibition showcases over 200 photographs by some of the leading 20th century photographers, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Bruce Gilden and Evelyn Hofer. The show examines how international photographers from the 1930s onwards have captured the social, cultural and political identity of the UK through the camera lens.
The event represented a great opportunity for students to hear an internationally recognised practitioner talking about his own work and the work of other esteemed photographers, as well as helping them gain valuable reference for their Personal Investigation Unit. As one student commented: “It was really amazing to actually see Martin Parr, having admired so many of his photographs in books. It was really cool.”