Martin Parr, whose new show, 'Only Human', opens at London’s National Portrait Gallery today, is the quintessential photographer of Britishness. No sun-fried pensioner in a deckchair, no Staffordshire bull terrier in an England top, no poshos passed out after a May Ball escapes his affectionate but uncompromising lens.
Therefore we were as surprised as anyone to learn, when we were discussing ideas for a photo story by Parr in the new issue of Esquire, that Parr had never captured that most quintessentially British of institutions, Savile Row. We set about correcting it immediately.
Parr’s images, seen above, shot exclusively for Esquire, show how the Row is both upholding its celebrated traditions – the dark wood, the taxidermy hunting trophies, the spiffily turned-out men with tape measures over their shoulders – while also moving with the times, making sure that younger, more diverse, and equally spiffily turned-out staff members are trained up and brought through. (Also, they’re not incapable of silliness: check out the stags in bowties at Huntsman.)
The series serves as a fine companion piece to the National Portrait Gallery’s show, which is huge and fun and colourful and full of poignancy and humour, or in the case of one room dedicated to Britain in the age of Brexit, unmistakable disquiet. There’s another room dedicated to beaches, one to tennis, one to horse racing, one to celebrities and even a majestic and very tongue-in-cheek shrine to the man himself. (Also, save time for the extensive gift shop.) Only Human: Martin Parr shows a craftsman at the very height of his profession who wears his expertise lightly – something of which the ladies and gentlemen of Savile Row would no doubt approve.
Only Human: Martin Parr is at the National Portrait Gallery in London from 7 March to 27 May 2019, npg.org.uk.
Miranda Collinge is the Deputy Editor of Esquire, overseeing editorial commissioning for the brand. With a background in arts and entertainment journalism, she also writes widely herself, on topics ranging from Instagram fish to psychedelic supper clubs, and has written numerous cover profiles for the magazine including Cillian Murphy, Rami Malek and Tom Hardy.
