His highly saturated photographs were held by institutions including Tate, the Centre Pompidou and New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Jeffares said photographers’ excitement when they heard Parr was coming to Hawke’s Bay made clear how significant landing the exhibition was.
The 40 photographs in Small World, largely shot during the 1980s and 1990s, document tourists around the globe, capturing the humour and contradictions of mass tourism.
“They’re so bright, they’re colourful, they’re witty,” Jeffares said.
Kleine Scheidegg, Switzerland, 1994. Photo / Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
Among his favourites is an image of skiers passing a postcard stand in the Alps.
Another captures tourists absorbed in their phones while artworks hang behind them.
“No one was looking at the beautiful space that they’re in,” Jeffares said.
“He’s caught people at the specific time that just sort of captures a snapshot of a moment.”
Mona Lisa, Louvre, Paris, France, 2012. Photo / Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
Jeffares said Fotofest shared Parr’s philosophy of making photography accessible to everyone.
“We probably could have charged a $20 door fee for people to come in and see it, but that’s not our personal philosophy either,” he said.
“We want Fotofest to always be free.”
While Small World will headline the festival, Fotofest will again spread visual storytelling beyond traditional galleries.
Exhibitions, workshops, and coffee and camera talks are expected across Napier, Ahuriri, Hastings and Havelock North during the festival.
Among them will be Murray Cammick’s black-and-white photographs of rock musicians who toured New Zealand during the 1970s and 1980s, and Tara Swan’s work documenting the wild Kaimanawa horses.
Jeffares said the physical exhibitions offered something increasingly uncommon in a world where photographs were overwhelmingly consumed through screens.
“We’ve got so used to it now,” he said.
“So being able to actually step back and look at something that’s printed and admire the image in its true form … is really encouraging.”
Jeffares said the event was also a chance to push the festival towards participation rather than simply viewing photographs.
“Building new connections, talking with new people, making new friends, being part of the whole community and the vibe. That’s really what I want to see happening more this year,” he said.
“So, we’ve brought a whole lot more opportunities for people to get involved. And the majority of everything is pretty much free.”