MOP Foundation Announces Major David Sims Exhibition: 'The Hamster Becomes The Problem'

July 2, 2026 | A Coruña, Spain

The MOP Foundation, led by ZARA and Inditex Chairwoman Marta Ortega Pérez, has announced 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 whose work has continuously redefined the creation of fashion imagery and infused it with new vitality.

Born in Sheffield in 1966, David Sims has敏锐ly captured the evolution of 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 exhibited globally. His photographs are 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 combines a deep understanding of photographic history with a constant awareness of how technological advancements shape photographic culture, image-making, and platforms for presentation. In the late 1990s, as his career took a significant leap forward, he was among the first to grasp the essential implications of the approaching digital era. This exhibition unravels the moment when the creative intent that would underpin his work over the following 30 years began to take shape.

'The Hamster Becomes The Problem' is akin to a deeply personal journey, with David Sims himself inviting visitors into his archive. It offers an experience of traversing the vast body of work that has shaped the visual language of contemporary culture, encountering the stories and protagonists he has created, and discovering the connections between them.

Moving fluidly between fashion and documentary, intimacy and performance, rebellion and delicacy, this exhibition highlights an artist who has keenly observed shifts in identity, aesthetics, and representation. It also offers a glimpse into Sims’ perspective—an image-maker who instinctively understands the role of visual culture and sensitively interprets the spirit of the times.

This is not a simple chronological retrospective. The exhibition is composed of multiple interconnected spaces, each reflecting a crucial aspect of Sims’ visual universe. Cultural themes and motifs recur throughout, creating a constellation-like expanse across 35 years of creative trajectory within the exhibition space. David Sims is an image-maker who has continuously created remarkable characters and narratives that resonate with our collective imagination, symbolizing his era.

Marta Ortega Pérez, Founder and Chairwoman of the MOP Foundation, commented:

'David Sims has always understood that photography is more than just imagery. 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 influence today as it did at the time of its creation.

At the core of David’s creativity lies a profound gaze toward youth culture. Few photographers have so sensitively observed its energy, fragility, creativity, and transformative power, instinctively understanding how it shapes both ourselves and the cultural environment around us. 'The Hamster Becomes The Problem' offers a unique opportunity to experience his artistic world from David’s own perspective and discover the threads of characters and stories that run through the work of this exceptional visual storyteller.'

Established by Marta Ortega Pérez, the MOP Foundation aims to promote photography, fashion, and the cultural development of A Coruña through international exhibitions, publications, and public programs. Since its inception, it has hosted major exhibitions by iconic photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, David Bailey, Annie Leibovitz, and Paolo Roversi, earning high acclaim as one of Europe’s leading hubs for photographic culture.

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

About ZARA

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

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