Grayson Perry's Serpentine exhibition is sensationally political
Grayson Perry's bombastically named "The Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever!" at the Serpentine Gallery opens on the day of the general election and features extremely political pottery
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Photography by MAJA SMIEJKOWSKA/REX/Shutterstock
Historically, Grayson Perry’s cultural scope and influence lie between Fred Perry and Matthew Perry. His recent bombastic show and overwhelming hashtag, "The Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever!" is his most breathtaking and colourful yet. Not to mention political. Even the opening is penciled for Election Day, June 8, at the Serpentine Gallery.
Brexit fans who are not yet sick of engaging with the topic will find two fragile pots, one for Remain and one for Leave. Pots are a rare art form these days in contemporary art requiring a 360 degree camera to capture in their entirety on instagram, or a rapid spin around the object on video. Both are bluish, one has a tiny icon of Churchill and Nigel Farage on top, and the other features a homeless person, trans people and an NHS logo. The former, entitled "Alan Measles and Clare visit the Rust Belt, 2017" (with Alan playing Jesus and Clare the Madonna), Jeremy Corbyn kneels to be blessed by Clare as Boris Johnson and Theresa May gaze over. On the other side on the piece Trump kneels before Alan. Classy Grayson.
MORE ART Tracey Emin: 'I might vote Women's Equality Party' ART Tracey Emin: 'I might vote Women's Equality Party' Riviera: inside the secret world of assassins, yacht orgies and art theft TV Riviera: inside the secret world of assassins, yacht orgies and art theft Stop the Venice cruise ship madness ART Stop the Venice cruise ship madness Brian Sanders at the Lever Gallery will be the best exhibition you'll see this year ART Brian Sanders at the Lever Gallery will be the best exhibition you'll see this year At the photocall, Perry stood beside one of the bigger canvases called "Battle of Britain", a depiction of a rainbow over a cloudy British field town. This battle has nothing to do with nuclear warheads or the IRA, and everything to do with pollution and climate change. Grayson tells GQ, “There's a magic money tree for banks, millionaires and Trident. But the tree disappears for doctors, nurses and teachers.”
One of the more impressive woodworks is a big bear with horns called "Animal Spirit". This could prove to be a wiser purchase than the breakable pots thanks to its longevity and resilience against rogue children. The bear has several abdominal areas in his body named called logical, objective, prudent and reasonable. The next piece, part-machine, part-photography, is an epic motorcycle with the word "Patience" against a backdrop of serene snowy mountain tops.
On the way out I noticed Perry’s take on the America’s Transgender Bathroom Controversy - Perry's is shown as a man beneath the men’s toilet sign, and as a woman beneath the ladies'. Perhaps he should’ve switched the two, put the lady on the men’s. Another funky vase says "Sell your house to buy one", reminiscent of some policy suggestions whereby elderly people will have to pay for their social care by selling their home.
MEN OF THE YEARGrayson Perry wins Writer of the Year 2016 Continue Reading Perry’s art, in this time, at this place, is much more relevant and interesting than Damien Hirst or Jeff Koons’ recent offerings. Perry gets people, and the people want socialism and clean air - they just don't have the permission of certain newspaper proprietors to think that way.
Perry is a known supporter of Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party and he’s bringing the dire Brexit Britain realism and consciousness to the homes of the elites, while managing to upscale the art market in every twist. Come to think of it, the Serpentine, led by Hans-Ulrich Obrist has never done anything remotely resembling current affairs in a crucial election week such as this, or at any other time. The tides are changing. In a divided society like ours, there isn't a positive vision as much a mitigation of how not-so-worse off the negative outcome can be. Grayson should consider changing "Popular" to "Populist". "The Most Populist Art Exhibition Ever!"
Story by Nimrod Kamer Tuesday 6 June 2017
http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/grayson-perry-serpentine-gallery
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