Martin Parr - We Love Britain

Hanover and the United Kingdom - the German city and the British island have more in common that you might first imagine. Some 300 years ago, George Ludwig Elector of Hanover ascended to Great Britain's throne as King George I - in a move occasioned by inheritance laws and political considerations that continue to have implications for Lower Saxony today. What typical British peculiarities and rituals have instilled themselves into Hanover's inhabitants? It is easiest to detect the familiar when abroad, so who could be more suitable to search for the "Britishness" in Lower Saxony than English Magnum photographer Martin Parr, who has proven his British humour and ability to root out national peculiarities in numerous photographs. On 128 pages our book We love Britain! assembles a cavalcade of punch lines and cliches. Lady Di as a life-sized cardboard figure, tea time, cricket, and Corgis. On behalf of the Sprengel Museum Hanover Martin Parr has captured the everyday and absurd in and around Hanover and makes fun of typical national characteristics and traditions. He struck it lucky in the Lady Di Club in Hameln, the "Britfest" in Paderborn, the re-enactment group of the "King's German Legion" in Hanover, the queen's birthday celebration and the world's largest Marksmen's Festival or "Schutzenfest", which takes place annually in Hanover. However, not only the royals play a role, but also the history of Lower Saxony as part of the former British occupation zone, and the current departure of British forces. We love Britain! is a catalogue both providing special insight into German-English history and conjuring a smile onto the faces of beholders with its absurd and unique images. And a close look reveals that not only the Union Jack decorates the cover but also the colours of the German flag.