10:55 AM. In front of the Jeu de Paume, a ten-meter queue keeps getting longer as the minutes tick by. We were convinced: the snapshots by Martin Parr would undoubtedly attract a large crowd. Just by looking at these folks, umbrellas in hand, scarves pulled up to their noses, and hats snug on their heads, we are now certain of it. When you think about it, this scene would surely have delighted the artist.
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From 17 to 77 years old, visitors are flocking and rushing to discover, in large format, the vibrant snapshots of the British photographer who passed away on December 6th. With the exhibition Global Warning, accessible until May 24, 2026, the museum at Place de la Concorde has made a powerful impact: you leave with colors in your eyes, indeed, but mostly bewildered by this showcase of the destruction and absurdity humans are capable of.
Documenting a Paradoxical World
“ It's astounding ”, we hear a woman say as she discovers the exhibition. “
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Kleine Scheidegg, Switzerland, 1994 ©Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
In Martin Parr's photographs, you'll find beaches, ski resorts, even the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Stunning places, paradisiacal for some, that serve merely as a backdrop to a less enchanting reality. Throughout his career, this photographer has focused on highlighting the decay of a society ravaged over the last fifty years by mass consumption, overtourism, and the desire for "more and more", all while leaving the planet in a state of "less and less." So, inevitably, the sparkle of those ultra-saturated colors takes on a whole new flavor.
Combining irony and photography
The waste overflowing from bins, the cigarette butts sprouting more in ashtrays than tulips in spring, beaches filled with more people than sand… Since the 1970s, societies and habits have changed, and Martin Parr has been one of the first witnesses to this shift. The world is moving forward, we can travel and explore new horizons. Ironic twist that no one saw coming: this evolution comes with a free fall. The more opportunities we give people, the more they seem to dive into an unstoppable frenzy, caring little about treading the paths that are opened for them.
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Benidorm, Spain, 1997 ©Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
Using humor as his main tool for critique, Martin Parr offers a world tour of the evolution of mindsets and societies, through 180 works, divided into five sections. These images, as ironic as they are shocking, stand as charges of a global crime against the planet in which everyone has played a part. And here we are, presumed guilty, desperately trying to claim false innocence before the great judge Parr.
Shaking up mindsets through photography
With an astonishing detachment from life, the photographer manages to...cute; delivering a double message, sometimes funny, sometimes powerful, through situations that seem trivial, which many of us have already faced. Its focus, always centered on the environment, climate degradation, or even animals, depicts human ridiculousness with a captivating and unsettling accuracy — we guarantee, you’ll never look at selfie sticks the same way again. “I create entertainment, which contains a serious message if you’re willing to read it, but I’m not trying to convince anyone — I’m simply showing what people already think they know,” he explained in 2021. You walk away shaken, with a slight feeling of foolishness, but definitely with a desire not to repeat the same mistakes. We, Martin, have been convinced.
Louvre Museum, Paris, 2012 ©Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
Martin Parr - Global Warning
Jeu de Paume
1, Place de la Concorde — 1st
Until May 24, 2026
More info