Magnum Photographer, Martin Parr, has spent a year documenting life in the Black Country.

Exploring modern day society and the cultural make up of the region Parr has painted a portrait of British life from his own unique perspective, creating an archive of photography that will be displayed in a free exhibition at The Public in West Bromwich from Thursday 11 November 2010 to Sunday 23 January 2011 (Wednesday to Sunday).

The collection of over 650 images, that has been commissioned by Multistory, a local community arts organisation, captures and celebrates everyday Black Country living and working at local factories and industries, markets, shops, Gurdwaras, Temples, Mosques, Churches, restaurants, cafes, clubs and pubs, weddings and local cultural celebrations for St George’s day, Easter and Vaisakhi.

Parr’s process of documenting and recording is fuelled by his passion and a curiosity, taking inspiration from his surroundings. His intimate approach, photographing his subjects in their own environment, gives him space to explore their lives and values in ways that often involve inadvertent humour.

Running alongside the exhibition will be ‘Show Me A Secret’, a project led by Martin Parr, in which students and tutors from Sandwell College Photography Department collectively photographed their own interpretations of Black Country life.

Martin Parr’s photographs can be found in numerous international public collections including the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the Paul Getty Center of Los Angeles, the MOMA in New York, the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco, the Los Angeles County Museum and the Tate Modern in London.

The exhibition runs from Thursday 11 November 2010 to Sunday 23 January 2011; Wednesday to Sunday, 10am – 6pm.

Have you visted the exhibition? Vote for your favourite Martin Parr photograph