Death by selfie, life by satire

BIOGRAPHIES: MARTIN PARR’S LENS EXPOSES THE ABSURDITY OF MODERN CONSUMPTION

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POKING FUN. British documentary photographer Martin Parr.

(Picture: AFP)

British documentary photographer Martin Parr says the world has never been more in need of satire like that in his images, because many people are too wealthy and their lifestyle is unsustainable.

"The state we're all in is appalling," said the 73 year old, known for his humorous snapshots of bronzed beachgoers and selfie-snapping holidaymakers.

"We're all too rich. We're consuming all these things in the world," he said, referring to tourists increasingly jumping on planes and mobbing European cities like Venice or Rome.

"And we can’t. It’s unsustainable. This joke about going to net zero [carbon emissions], it’s never going to happen," he told AFP in Paris on a visit to promote his autobiography.