Grayson Perry is tired of living a double life
As he unveils his biggest exhibition yet, the '->-bleeped-<- potter' seems set to join the art world's big beasts. But will his ladylike alter ego and childhood teddy bear be joining him?
By Nigel Farndale
7:30AM BST 09 Oct 2011
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/8813146/Grayson-Perry-is-tired-of-living-a-double-life.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/8813146/Grayson-Perry-is-tired-of-living-a-double-life.html)
Being an accommodating man, Grayson Perry has asked if we – that is, the photographer and me – would like him as Claire or as himself. Actually, it was someone from his gallery who asked on his behalf, but still, it is an intriguing distinction, one that I will try to unravel here. He is far from consistent on the subject.
For now, though, it would be as well to remind ourselves, as if we could forget, that not only is 51-year-old Perry a "conceptual artist who works as a craftsman" (his definition) but he is also a ->-bleeped-<-, and that when he dresses as a woman it tends to be as one who wouldn't look out of place in a pantomime. Indeed, when he won the Turner Prize for his ceramics in 2003, he was wearing a Little Bo Peep outfit. "It's about time a ->-bleeped-<- potter won this prize," he quipped.
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GRAYSON PERRY TAKES POT SHOTS AT ANCIENT ART
Sunday October 9,2011
By Clair Woodward
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/276313/Grayson-Perry-takes-pot-shots-at-ancient-art (http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/276313/Grayson-Perry-takes-pot-shots-at-ancient-art)
LAST week David and Samantha Cameron were shown on the news relaxing before the Conservative Party conference by reading the newspapers.
"Who's that?" said David as his wife lingered over a picture of a man wearing a mauve and red outfit decorated with teddies, riding a custom-made pink, blue and white motorbike, complete with a teddy in a shrine on the back.
"That's Grayson Perry. He's really cool," said Mrs Cameron.
Grayson Perry Puts 'Drag King' Coins in British Museum Exhibit: Interview
By Farah Nayeri - Oct 10, 2011 7:00 PM ET
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-10/grayson-perry-puts-drag-king-coins-in-museum-show-interview.html (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-10/grayson-perry-puts-drag-king-coins-in-museum-show-interview.html)
The artist, who collected the 2003 Turner Prize in lipstick and a purple frock, is presenting his show, "The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman," at the British Museum in London. It's Perry's pick of the collection, mixed with art of his own making.
[...]
For illustration, I ask him to pick out something in the "Sexuality & Gender" section. He mentions two Victorian "drag king" coins -- re-engraved to make Queen Victoria look male.
"Some professional engraver, I imagine on his lunch break, has given her a sex change!" he cheers. "Quite a transgressive move in those days!"