Trent Parke: Monument
Trent Parke‘s groundbreaking publication, Monument, serves as a gateway through which we bear witness to the gradual decay of the cosmos across 294 meticulously crafted pages.
This monumental work, encased in leather and adorned with symbolic Earth coordinates, features blind-stamped end sheets, black-dyed edges, and a detachable steel plaque that, once removed, renders the volume devoid of language.
Upon Trent Parke’s relocation from a rural Australian town to Sydney, his initial impression was overwhelmed by the sheer multitude of people. Seizing every opportunity, he would seize his camera and venture out, captivated by the unending processions.
During the rush hour, he observed the city workers moving en masse, marching along the great conveyor belt of life. In a trance-like state, he trod the same path day after day, week after week, year after year… clocking in, clocking out, all under the city’s enchantment. Parke stood on the wave’s edge, an outsider peering into a new world, as if observing a recently discovered species.
“At night, I would witness the moth eclipse—countless insects circling incessantly around the lights of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Simultaneously, on my balcony, a miniature spectacle unfolded around the light above my head. The moths, inevitably and without resistance, were lured to their ultimate demise. Spiraling out of control, akin to small spaceships ensnared in a gravitational force. Drawn and blinded by the brilliant white light, they were swiftly seized by hundreds of swooping birds, snatched from the air… spiders patiently awaited on their intricate webs, strategically placed across the luminous fixtures, ensnaring the unsuspecting creatures that slipped through. If, by some miracle, any managed to survive that onslaught, they persisted, driven towards the flame, intoxicated by those scorching hot light bulbs. Then, suddenly, an electric charge in the tranquil air. A faint wisp of smoke. Vanished. Instantaneous disintegration of a life form. Another blip in the vast universe. Another tiny spacecraft colliding with the blazing sun.” – Trent Parke
About the Author
Trent Parke, the pioneering Australian photographer who attained Full Membership in the esteemed Magnum Photo Agency, is widely regarded as one of the most inventive and thought-provoking artists of his era. Going beyond the confines of conventional documentary photography, Parke’s body of work exists in the realm between fiction and reality, presenting an evocative and introspective portrayal of both family life and the Australian landscape, characterized by its poetic essence and often tinged with dark humor.
In 2015, Parke’s solo exhibition, titled “The Black Rose,” made its debut at the Art Gallery of South Australia. This captivating showcase encompassed photographs, light boxes, videos, written texts, and books, guiding viewers through a sprawling visual narrative that delved into the ephemeral nature and significance of existence, from deeply personal to universally resonant perspectives.
Throughout his career, Parke has garnered numerous awards and recognition. Together with collaborator Narelle Autio, he was a Finalist in the 2016 Basil Sellars Art Prize and received the prestigious Photography Prudential Eye Award in 2014. In his previous role as a press photojournalist, he achieved five Gold Lenses from the International Olympic Committee and was a recipient of multiple World Press Photo Awards in 1999, 2000, and 2005. Notably, in 2003, he was honored with the esteemed W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography.
Parke’s works have been featured in exhibitions and art fairs worldwide and hold prominent positions in major institutional collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of South Australia, Artbank, Magnum London, and Magnum Paris. In 2014, renowned publisher Steidl released two hardcover monographs showcasing Parke’s oeuvre: “Minutes to Midnight” and “The Christmas Tree Bucket.” Additionally, Parke’s self-published collaboration with Narelle Autio, titled “Dream/Life,” secured second place in the American Picture of the Year Award for Photography Books in 2000.
