Hull, Portrait of a City: New photography by Olivia Arthur and Martin Parr

In a recent commission to coincide, photographers Olivia Arthur and Martin Parr have been tasked with creating their own, unique portrait of the evolving city. Martin Parr has explored the rich culinary culture of Hull and Olivia Arthur, the creativity of the young people of the city.

Collectively, these two series of work, on display for the first time in the exhibition Hull, Portrait of a City, open a discussion as to how we define the culture, landscape and people of Hull.

Olivia Arthur’s black and white photographs explore the youth culture of Hull, from Elvis impersonators to pet snakes, football, bodybuilders, teenage style, relationships and young families.

For this commission, Arthur has travelled frequently to the city to build relationships with local young people, enabling her to depict them in domestic interiors or the recreational areas where they spend much of their time. Arthur’s ability to build trust with her subjects has resulted in a series of insightful and honest portraits reflecting the individuality, identity and aspirations of the young people of the city at this crucial time in British history.

With humour and his trademark use of garish colours, Martin Parr has captured the rich culinary landscape of Hull. From classic fish and chips to patty butties, the world-renowned Chip Spice and Hull Pie, to more upmarket vendors appearing up along the regenerated Fruit Market and European and specialist supermarkets – the city’s attitudes, traditions and enthusiasm for global cuisine are depicted in these photographs. Parr is known for his interest in British leisure and consumption – and this new series of over 100 photographs presents a snapshot of the central contribution of food to the character, social life and culture of Hull.

Hull, Portrait of a City takes place from 13 October – 31 December 2017 at Humber Street Gallery. Admission is free. For more information visit www.hull2017.co.uk.

Main image: Crisp & Fry. Spring Bank, Hull 2017 © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos | All images courtesy of Magnum Photos