Grayson Perry

[Annette Curtain]

Grayson Perry's new show starts tonight

"The Vanity of Small Differences" is at Victoria Miro (angel or old street tube) from 7 June - 11 August 2012.

http://www.channel4.com/assets/programmes/images/in-the-best-possible-taste-grayson-perry/the-vanity-of-small-differences/c397be21-9dcd-4900-8a66-d75faa53ed6d_412x232.jpg

He's showing six new tapestries:

"The tapestries tell the story of class mobility, for I think nothing has as strong an influence on our aesthetic taste as the social class in which we grow up"

(Grayson Perry)

Also see Channel 4's new three-part series:

"All in the Best Possible Taste" with Grayson Perry started on Tuesday 5 June at 10pm.

Personally, I like Grayson Perry and his work. I also like what he stands for. He's a man who, in a very British tradition, pushes our perception of how we see ourselves and this country. He crosses gender and class, and much like those who've gone before him, he makes us dig deep & explore our levels of tolerance.

Also i'm not sure where else in the world would embrace & encourage (or take to their heart), a man with an alar ego like Grayson's "Clare", let alone be a public figure.

An artist like Perry is to be cherished

Nette

(I shall report back later after the opening)

*now what frock shall I wear*

[Parkdrive]

You mean tolerated like ladyboys in Thailand, or just figures of fun? As for taking him to our hearts, I'm not sure very many people have/would.

[womanofdulwich]

I quite liked his going out outfit in Sunderland.

[Sue]

Thanks for this, I will go to his show, I saw the first episode of the television series and I thought it was brilliant.

Loved what he did and looking forward to the other two.

ETA: Parkdrive, your post is just pathetic.

Are you one of those people who think everybody should be just the same as you? Thank Christ they aren't.

[woodrot]

its an interesting take on class and perspectives of class, whether its true or not. Its worth watching

[Annette Curtain]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> You mean tolerated like ladyboys in Thailand, or

> just figures of fun? As for taking him to our

> hearts, I'm not sure very many people have/would.

Here's a pot

I'm sure Perry had you specially in mind when creating it PD

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7421/graysonphoto1.jpg

There was another pot, with a transexual man nearly naked on it, wearing a black suspenderbelt/stocking combo. He/she was sporting a dildo in her/his hand, using it like a tooth brush

One leg cocked slightly up, to give full view of the man tackle

Quite fetching it was too

Maybe not your thing; but good legs, probably a centre forward in a previous life

Nette

[Parkdrive]

Sue Wrote:

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> ETA: Parkdrive, your post is just pathetic.

>

> Are you one of those people who think everybody

> should be just the same as you? Thank Christ they

> aren't.

Not at all, merely stating my opinion, which is clearly at odds with yours, and you're right thank god we aren't all alike.

If good art is judged merely on the ability of a male artist to dress like a woman, then Danny La Rue must have been a bloody brilliant artist. If he's such a great artist, why the necessity for such a gimmick? Or does he need it to get people interested in what might otherwise be deemed by some to be crap?

And while we're at it, there's nothing wrong with a good curry washed down with a nice cool beer.

[titch juicy]

why do you think it's a gimmick?

grayson perry is a superb human being

[*Bob*]

I think it's fair to say that cross-dressing helped secure him The Turner. But it's not as if he's a landscape painter who cross dresses to hit the headlines. Who / what he is - is reflected in - and a part of - what he makes.

Not many people work on their gimmick for three decades.. just in case they get famous.

His stuff doesn't do much for me, but 'ee's just a bloke in a dress ineeee' is poor.

[Sue]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> If good art is judged merely on the ability of a

> male artist to dress like a woman, then Danny La

> Rue must have been a bloody brilliant artist. If

> he's such a great artist, why the necessity for

> such a gimmick? Or does he need it to get people

> interested in what might otherwise be deemed by

> some to be crap?

xxxxxxxx

Obviously art is not judged on that, what a ridiculous comment.

Grayson Perry is a great artist AND he happens to enjoy dressing as a woman/girl sometimes.

Presumably the various aspects of the personality of any artist will inform their art, whether it's cross dressing or anything else.

Louis Killen, who you won't have heard of, is a fantastic singer who only very recently has publicly come out - in his seventies - as having an alter ego, Louisa Killen. He has - extremely bravely in my opinion in view of comments of people like yourself - appeared on stage in women's clothes.

Are you suggesting that if he had done this at an earlier age it would somehow have given him an advantage in getting bookings/record contracts? I think not. His image was of a bearded, masculine, deep-voiced guy who sang songs about mining, the sea and stuff.

Cross-dressing is hardly going to turn crap art into great art. And there are always going to be some people who think some art is crap. I think much of what Damien Hirst has done is crap, but that doesn't seem to have held him back :))

[titch juicy]

*Most of what Damian Hurst has done with his three ideas since college is crap. Unfortunately the world of high art is often not about quality.

[maxxi]

It's hard not to keep turning out what many call 'crap' when so many rich gullible tossers insist on paying thousands for it. Takes great fortitude to resist the lure of lucre and produce real art again.

I think Hirst is aware of the dilemma and thought 'Sod it - I'll take their cash and do some more 'real' stuff later' - trouble is it's hard to go back - especially when you didn't leave a trail of crumbs to follow.

ETA: I do quite like Perry's work but would rather see Cornelia Parker's stuff any day.

[granadaland]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> You mean tolerated like ladyboys in Thailand, or

> just figures of fun?

Sounds like you've 'tolerated' a few ladyboys in Thailand.

[MrsR]

I loved this tv programme. Do you need to book tickets to see the tapestries or can you just turn up at the gallery? Also is there an admission charge?

[PinarelloFan]

MrsR Wrote:

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> I loved this tv programme. Do you need to book

> tickets to see the tapestries or can you just turn

> up at the gallery? Also is there an admission

> charge?

No booking required and it's free entry.

http://www.victoria-miro.com/

[dcradds]

I am struggling to watch the middle class snobs spoiling Graysons programme All in the best possible taste.

Revolting people.

[Annette Curtain]

Ah it's all fun though, pointing fingers at people

"Oooo look at him/her"

Only to realise we're pointing at a bit of ourselves in the process

Nette ☐

[maxxi]

dcradds Wrote:

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> I am struggling to watch the middle class snobs

> spoiling Graysons programme All in the best

> possible taste.

> Revolting people.

I think any middle class snobs watching would think exactly the same.

He managed to analyse the clich?s of middle class taste without sneering and almost without offending which is quite a feat. His reassuring protestation of "but I'm middle class too!" helped, yet I couldn't help thinking that some of the guests at the tapestry viewing would go home a bit narked despite their nodding and smiling agreement at all his wit and insight.

That computerised tapestry machine was brill though.

[PeckhamRose]

Someone on the show last night defined middle class as being aspirational; I would disagree - working classes are even more so. They aspire probably more than anyone else. But I loved the programme and I love what he does.

[El Pibe]

Oh god, and yet another slew of polarised, class related excoriations ensues. It gives rise to desperation not aspiration frankly!

Aspiration is a facet of character, one might even argue of being human full stop. It has shit all to do with class.

I suppose at a pinch one might say it's cultural, but then there IS something about Britons' peculiar schadenfreudal love of failure and sneering at success that means you should all keep schtum on this one.

Back on topic I'm afraid Grayson doesn't really do it for me either, but then Chuckie Egg is my idea of a great artistic achievement.

[maxxi]

Nearly avoided the bear-trap EP, but the "you should all keep schtum..." got you in the end.

*points finger in desperation at local aspirants.

[El Pibe]

You'll notice I have the fidelity of a 2-bit whore when it comes to national identity, whatever makes the best point.

I of course would never revel in the inglories of one hoist by their own petard, oh no not me, never!!!

[Annette Curtain]

El Pibe Wrote:

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Now that is "class" EP

[Sue]

Went to the exhibition on Saturday.

Absolutely loved it. The tapestries are stunning, and lots of references to other works of art etc if you are into that sort of thing.

There is also a brilliant and really interesting installation upstairs by Sarah Sze (who also has smaller ones in a room which you have to walk through to get to the Grayson Perry). Nearly missed it but very glad I didn't.

Would have been worth going for that alone. Never heard of her before.

Good cup of tea overlooking a nice pond, too :)