On Saturday I went with my wife and daughter to Grayson Perry's exhibition at the British Museum, 'The Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman'. There is a short video on the museum web site which is worth watching.For those of you not familiar with Grayson, he is a potter, artist and cross-dresser who notoriously accepted his Turner Prize wearing a frock. His exhibition was colourful and thought-provoking and I thoroughly recommend it. It's on until February 2012.
He has collected together all kinds of things, new and old, some his own work but mostly from the British Museum's own store rooms. All show care and attention to detail, a love of work beyond mere utility. They show just how clever and hard-working craftsmen have been for millenia.
Here is another of his pots.
And the centre-piece of the show, a cast-iron model of a ship - the tomb itself.
Sadly photography was not allowed so no snaps by me I'm afraid.
Grayson is quite open about his cross-dressing. ( Good for him, I say, though I do think someone should get him a better wig!)
He referred in one small exhibit to the Chevalier d'Éon de Beaumont who lived in 18th century France and England and was notable for being able to pass easily as a woman. He was a favourite of king Louis XV of France (for a while at least) and was dispatched to Russia as a spy - infiltrating the court of the empress as a lady-in waiting. He had a long and complicated life and could be, as Grayson notes, quite macho, being very good with a sword and fighting in the French military. The Beaumont Society, a UK society for cross-dressers and transgender folk is named after him.
Sadly, going to London as Penny was not on the cards, though it would have been an appropriate nod to the work that Grayson Perry put into the exhibition. Long may he prosper.
Has anyone else been to see the exhibition?
Do you like the British Museum? (I do!)
Do let me know your thoughts!
3 comments:
I've not been, although I think I'd like to.
If you find Mr Perry interesting, there's a Desert Island Discs episode on Radio 4 with him on it.
Indeed. I think I may have heard the Desert Island Discs programme on the radio, but I'll snag the podcast anyway.
His dress sense is a little unfortunate, but he has made it part of his public profile and it obviously works for him!
Penny
I would say that his dress sence is idionsyncratic rather than unfortuate- I think his appearance is part of his art, any way I love the British museum, especially some of thier special exhibitions, I have seen the First Emperor, the Babylon and a few others recently, and planning on going to this pne as well - as Paula
Post a Comment