GRAYSON PERRY - BRITISH MUSEUM EXHIBITION

GRAYSON PERRY - THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN CRAFTSMAN

This exhibition is at the British Museum until 19 February 2012.  Open late Fridays.

This is definitely one of the best exhibitions I have seen this year in London.

Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman - pencil sketch

I know very little about Grayson Perry, except from his very public persona in the media.

 

TURNER PRIZE

He is a Turner Prize winner and at the time of the win, he appeared at Tate Modern wearing women's clothing, which did give an impression of somebody who would do anything for publicity!

Now I have seen his work, for the first time, I do think he is very skillful and creative, also quite brave and thoughtful in the comments which are displayed as text alongside the exhibits.

There are many engaging and thought-provoking items in the exhibition, from the British Museum's own collection.  Some of them are ancient and some quite new, such as little skeleton figures from Mexico.

I did a drawing of one of the main pieces, a sculpture in cast iron called The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman.  This is an impressive structure with items impressed, or rather, cast, from pieces which Perry has made, or which are already in the British Museum, such as a Benin head.  

Perry's point is that the workers who made the pieces in the Museum, and all 'Unknown Craftsmen' and that all the pieces were at one time contemporary.

Here is a link to the Museum, which gives information about visiting times and location

The British Museum in Great Russell Street

and here is a link to the piece about Grayson Perry on the British Museum's website, with a video and other images 

Grayson Perry images and video

ATKINSON GRIMSHAW AT THE GUILDHALL ART GALLERY

ATKINSON GRIMSHAW - PAINTER OF MOONLIGHT

This exhibition is at present in the excellent Guildhall Art Gallery, in the City of London, until 15 January 2012

Guildhall Art Gallery, City of London 

Atkinson Grimshaw oil painting

This gallery has an excellent permanent collection of art, particularly Victorian, and you should definitely go there if in London, it is quiet, inexpensive and a real gem of a place.

Atkinson Grimshaw is a Victorian painter, whose work I have only seen reproduced on cards up to now.

There was a lot to learn about him.  Good information about artist, his work and his background was provided on the walls of the galliers.

The work varied somewhat, the earlier paintings rather brightly coloured, showing landscapes with vivid greens, and greenish/blue skies.

LEEDS ART GALLERY

Later he had the inspiration of painting the locality of Leeds and the North West at the time when the industrial revolution was at its height.

Apparently there were many wealthy industrialist who had large mansions and liked the work of Grimshaw to hang on their stately walls.

There were several rooms full of work and he was obviously prolific, since he died quite young, in 1893 aged 57.

Particularly I admired the townscapes, painted when the light was fading and the gas street lights glimmered.

REFLECTIONS OF LIGHT

Often he painted relections of these lights, in wet pavements and in harbours or canals.  It is for these lighting effects that I believe he is chiefly known.

The majority of his work is from the North of England, in places such as the Leeds City Art Gallery, which is why it is difficult to see them if you live in the south of England.

Here is a link to some more information about Atkinson Grimshaw

Atkinson Grimshaw