Only in England
Tony Ray-Jones (1941-1972) and Martin Parr (b. 1952) are not only well known for being outstanding British photographers but for capturing the English landscape with familiarity and nostalgia. From 1966 until 1969, Ray-Jones produced a series of images picking up on the character and quirks of Britain in a completely new way. Inspired by his work, Parr, who was introduced to Ray-Jones during his time as a student at Manchester Polytechnic, produced The Non-Conformists within two years of the older artist’s untimely death. Shot in black and white in Hebden Bridge and the nearby Calder Valley, Parr’s series represents Ray-Jones’ significant influence on British photographic practice. For the first time, the two artists’ images are hung side by side on the walls of Media Space, Science Museum, from 21 September until 16 March 2014. The exhibition will then be on display at the National Media Museum from 22 March until 29 June 2014. A new book, Martin Parr: The Non-Conformists: Photographs, will be published by Aperture in October 2013. The following pieces are a preview of the exhibition.
