23rd June 2021
Grayson Perry Overview
Grayson Perry is an English contemporary artist, writer and tapestries who is renowned for his ceramic work. Famous for his bold, loud and eclectic style Perry’s alter ego Claire encompasses his eccentricity and elaborate style which can be seen throughout his performance-based work. His out of the norm subject matter has a focus on fashion and dissecting social norms with a focus on current social and political issues keeping his work current and up to date.
Cocktail Party 1989
Glazed Ceramic
Using chintzy fabric transfers and drawing on the forward-thinking designers of the 80’s such as Jean-Paul Gaultier and Channel Perry has encapsulated the awkwardness of a cocktail party. The background is dull and the use of colours represents a more conservative approach which possibly draws on the subject matter as a contrast to the glamour of the 80s. Described as “angular woman who don’t appear to be enjoying themselves stand in a freeze-like row, awkwardly eating or listening”. Capitulating social class by taking inspiration from high end designers, whilst presenting the viewer with a juxtaposition, wealth and with a never-ending access to high fashion and social events is not going to mask the dull and boring atmosphere.
Perry’s choice of subject matter is clearly individuals from the upper classes. He has portrayed this in a way which says you don’t need to have endless amounts of money to have fun and not a guarantee that you’re going to enjoy yourself. My impression is that Perry is trying to make a joke out of the upper classes as this is the opposite of what Perry was himself. He didn’t have a normal view of what society was as he was trying to break free from the social norms. You shouldn’t be judged, yet by Perry judging the upper classes in the way that he has, illustrates the point. as a whole.
