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