Systems – whether universal, local or personal – define the human experience. From regional eccentricities to the international economy, this selection of exhibitions inspects the diverse range of structures that are pervasive in contemporary life, with some offering means of escape.
The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip, Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin.
A prominent theme in literature, music and films, the ideal of driving across America possesses a timeless mythic quality. This show explores the work of nineteen photographers for whom the highway is muse, tracking the development of car culture and the escapist allure of the open road. Featured practitioners include Stephen Shore, William Eggleston, Lee Friedlander, Joel Sternfeld, Todd Hido, Justine Kurland and Joel Meyerowitz. Until 22 April . Find out more here.
Martin Parr: Souvenir – A Photographic Journey, Versicherungskammer Kulturstiftung, Munich.
Parr (b. 1952) observes Britain’s social landscape, unearthing the idiosyncrasies that define the country. Taking a humorous approach to notions of consumption, tourism and national identity, the artist reveals the amusing and often surprising nature of quotidian experience. Until 28 January. Find out more here.
Go-Sees, Bubenreuth kids and a Fairytale about a King…, Alison Jacques Gallery, London
Alison Jacques Gallery, London, brings together three bodies of work by Juergen Teller (b. 1964) that disrupt perceptions of beauty and aesthetics. By foregrounding the seminal series Go-Sees – a collection of spontaneous, unpolished portraits – it interrogates the fashion industry, challenging established visual protocols associated with the luxury world. Until 3 February. Find out more here
Andreas Gursky, Hayward Gallery, London
Gursky’s (b. 1955) “democratic” perspective grants equal importance to each element of his monumental, highly detailed scenes. Capturing sites of contemporary importance – including scenes of the global economy – the photographer reflects on modern life and the nature of the medium. The show marks the reopening of the gallery following a two-year refurbishment. Until 22 April. Find out more here.
Edmund Clark: The Day The Music Died, ICP Museum, New York
Comprising a collection of publications and image-based projects, this exhibition offers a highly relevant and meaningful survey of America’s response to international terrorism. Charting the universal effects of methods of control, Clark examines the experiences of observation, incarceration and disorientation, providing an immersive viewing experience. Until 6 May. Find out more here.
Credits:
1. Steven Shore, U.S. 97, South of Klamath Falls, Oregon, July 21, 1973, 1973. © Stephen Shore, Courtesy of the artist and 303 Gallery, New York
2. Martin Parr. From the series The Last Resort: Photographs of New Brighton. 1983-1985. Courtesy of Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
3. Juergen Teller, 3rd March 1999, © Juergen Teller, All rights Reserved
4. 99 Cent, 1999. © Andreas Gursky/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
5. Child’s bedroom in home of former Guantanamo detainee, from the series Guantanamo- If the Light Goes Out, 2009. © Edmund Clark. Courtesy of ICP Museum.
