Art / Martin Parr Foundation
Sophie Green’s ‘Tangerine Dreams’ comes to Martin Parr Foundation
Documentary photographer Sophie Green has been making images of British contemporary life for a decade. As a creative, she is fascinated with capturing the many communities, subcultures, rituals and traditions that shape – and change – the national identity.
“British identity is not fixed” notes Green; “it is continuously constructed by those who live here today. This complexity makes Britain a rich source of stories and inspiration for my work.
“From the adrenaline thrill of banger racing, where drivers deliberately smash cars they’ve spent weeks meticulously preparing, to the vibrant chaos of traveller horse fairs, with horse trading, cockerel fights and social reunions; from Aladura Spiritualist African church congregations sharing hymns and Nigerian dishes at Sunday services, to modified street car festivals that transform pimped-out vehicles into symbols of masculinity; Irish dance clubs, British cowboy shows and beyond – these gatherings are a window into the search for joy, meaning and connection. They illuminate a Britain shaped by a patchwork of voices and stories.”
Sophie Green, Emily, New Brighton Beach, Liverpool, UK. From the series Beachology, 2020
Sophie Green, Elise & Sienna the Yorkshire Terrier, Bath Canine Society Dog Show, Bath, UK. From the series Doggy Style, 2021
Green’s work is vibrant, bold, and often celebratory in tone, with a characteristic warmth and a bright colour palette. Despite the diverse scope of her images, there is an enduring theme of energy, connection and community that draws them together.
“In a world fractured by nationalism, culture wars, individualism and loneliness”, she reflects, “these practices anchor us in our shared humanity.”
Sophie Green, Peju, Roda & Posi, London, UK. From the series Congregation, 2018 – photo: © Sophie Green. Courtesy Martin Parr Foundation
Sophie Green, Simone’s Nails, Southend-on-sea Beach, Essex, UK. From the series Beachology, 2020
Central to her interest in rituals around life and death, a number of the photographs featuring in the collection document funerals. This preoccupation is one that Martin Parr encouraged Green to continue pursuing, especially given the relative absence of funeral photography within the visual culture. Green deems the late photographer’s support to have been invaluable to her own practice.
Opening at Martin Parr Foundation on June 4, Tangerine Dreams: Rituals of Belonging in Contemporary British Life brings together an “emotively kaleidoscopic” collection of Green’s work, which will be open to visitors throughout the summer.
Sophie Green, Boys Jumping in Sea, Margate Beach, Margate, UK. From the series Beachology, 2020
Sophie Green, Horsey Hat, Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, UK. From the series Pedigree Power, 2016
Despite their vibrancy, Green’s images also capture communities and traditions at the mercy of multiple risk factors, including “council restrictions, diminishing spaces, gentrification and enduring prejudice”. Her work seeks to become a lasting document of these shifting facets of British culture.
The photobook for Tangerine Dreams was first released in 2025 and sold out within a week. A second edition will be published to coincide with the exhibition.
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Sophie Green: Tangerine Dreams: Rituals of Belonging in Contemporary British Life is at Martin Parr Foundation on June 4-September 6, with an exhibition party on the opening day, and an artist talk and book signing on June 17.
For more information, visit www.martinparrfoundation.org, or follow the artist @sophiegreenstudio.
All photos: © Sophie Green; courtesy Martin Parr Foundation (main photo: Irish Dancer, Kent Championships, Kent, UK. From the series Fast Feet & Feis, 2022).
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