MOP Foundation to Host Major Exhibition of David Sims' Work "The Hamster Becomes The Problem"

July 2, 2026 | A Coruña, Spain

MOP Foundation, led by Marta Ortega Pérez, Chairman of ZARA and Inditex, announced it will host a major solo exhibition of British photographer David Sims, titled "The Hamster Becomes The Problem." Sims is recognized as one of the most influential visual storytellers of his generation, a photographer who has continuously redefined and breathed new life into the creation of fashion imagery.

Born in Sheffield in 1966, David Sims has consistently captured the shifts in contemporary culture throughout his career. Moving fluidly between editorial, advertising, and personal work, he has consistently challenged the conventions of fashion photography. Through collaborations with leading fashion designers and magazines worldwide, he has produced numerous culturally significant works and exhibited them globally. His work is also held in the collections of major institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and Tate.

Sims possesses a deep understanding of photographic history, while also constantly looking towards the possibilities that technological advancements bring to photographic culture, image production, and platforms for presentation. In the late 1990s, as his career gained significant momentum, he quickly grasped the essential implications of the impending digital age. This exhibition delves into the story of the moment when the creative intent that would form the foundation of his work over the subsequent three decades was shaped, precisely from that turning point.

"The Hamster Becomes The Problem" feels like an exceptionally personal journey, with David Sims himself inviting visitors into his archive. It will be an experience of encountering the narratives he has created and their protagonists, traversing and discovering connections within the vast body of work that has shaped the visual language of contemporary culture.

This exhibition, which moves freely between fashion and documentary, intimacy and performance, rebellion and delicacy, highlights an artist who has consistently captured the changes in identity, aesthetics, and representation. Simultaneously, it offers a glimpse into Sims' perspective, one that has keenly read the sensibilities of the times and instinctively understood his role as an image-maker.

This exhibition is not merely a retrospective tracing works chronologically. It is composed of interconnected spaces, each reflecting a crucial aspect of Sims' visual universe. Cultural themes and motifs reappear throughout the exhibition, unfolding like constellations across his 35-year creative trajectory and within the exhibition space. David Sims is an image-maker who has consistently resonated with our collective imagination, continuing to create striking figures and narratives that symbolize this era.

Marta Ortega Pérez, Founder and Chairman of MOP Foundation, commented:

"David Sims has always understood that photography is more than just an image. His work reflects the people, values, and cultural movements of each era, building a visual culture that transcends generations. His body of work continues to hold the same impact today as it did when it was first published.

At the core of David's creative practice is a profound gaze towards youth culture. Few photographers have so delicately observed its energy, fragility, creativity, and transformative power, and instinctively understood how it shapes ourselves and the cultural environment around us. "The Hamster Becomes The Problem" will be a unique opportunity to experience his world through David's own perspective and discover the threads of characters and narratives that run through the work of this exceptional visual storyteller."

MOP Foundation, established by Marta Ortega Pérez, aims to promote photography, fashion, and the cultural development of A Coruña through international exhibitions, publications, and public programs. Since its establishment, it has hosted major exhibitions by leading photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, David Bailey, Annie Leibovitz, and Paolo Roversi, earning a reputation as a prominent hub for photographic culture in Europe.

"The Hamster Becomes The Problem" will open at MOP Foundation in A Coruña, Spain, on November 21, 2026, and will run until May 1, 2027.

About ZARA

ZARA is part of Inditex, a global fashion company that also operates Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, and ZARA Home. Inditex operates a highly integrated platform with a presence in 98 markets and over 200 online markets, based on continuous innovation and customer service, aiming for climate neutrality by 2040. Since its first store opening in Shibuya, Tokyo, in 1998, ZARA has steadily expanded its store network across Japan, currently operating 59 stores nationwide.

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