Magnum photographer Trent Parke will exhibit the European premiere of his new work, Monument, at Martin Parr Foundation, organised with Bristol Photo Festival as a part of the 2024 festival programme.

In Monument, Trent brings together images produced over a 25 year period taken on the streets of Sydney and Adelaide, Australia, creating a portal through which we witness the disintegration of the universe. Stanley Barker has produced a landmark publication of the work, presenting Monument as a single filmic narrative.

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2003. From Monument. © Trent Parke / Magnum Photos

When Trent Parke moved to Sydney from a small Australian country town, his first impression was of the sheer volume of people. He would grab his camera and go out to explore the endless processions at every opportunity.

At rush hour, Trent watched as the city workers moved in mass walking the great conveyor belt of life, standing on the edge of the wave, on the outside of a new world looking in. The more Trent photographed the rush hour, the more he became drawn to the light, chasing the sun as it moved from street corner to street corner, trying to make sense of what everything means and what seems like an endless struggle.

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1998. From Monument. © Trent Parke / Magnum Photos

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2003. From Monument. © Trent Parke / Magnum Photos

“At night I would watch the eclipse of moths, millions of them constantly circling the lights of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. At the same time, on my balcony, a miniature performance played out around the light above my head. The moths inevitably and without resistance were drawn to their ultimate demise. Spiralling out of control, like small space-ships caught in a tractor beam.

An electrical charge in the still air. A small puff of smoke. Gone. Instant disintegration of a life form. Another blip in the universe. Another small space craft colliding with the blazing sun.” – Trent Parke

Trent is considered one of the most innovative and challenging photographers of his generation, exploring themes of identity, place and community.

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2002. From Monument. © Trent Parke / Magnum Photos