Grayson Perry - “Who are you?

Britain is Best

 National Portrait Gallery, London.

Modern Family

Melanie, Georgina & Sarah

“For most of us, most of the time, our identity works for us so we do not question it. But when it doesn’t not feel right, or is under threat, then we are suddenly made very aware of how central and vital our identity is.”

Grayson Perry

You will be mistaken to think this is going to be an exhibition of portraits…. Instead, its an eclectic mix of ceramics, tapestry and paintings, a 21^st century social commmentary. The focus is not on what an individual looks like but delves under the surface of their identity and acts as a narrative of the individual’s life. Grayson has worked to portray character and the journey the subjects are facing in life.

Comfort Blanket

“All of them, I thought, show us something of the negotiations we are all involved in, unconsciously or otherwise, around who we feel we are and how are we are seen.”

       Grayson Perry

Curation

My view, superb and very clever. 14 pieces strategically scattered amongst the permanent traditional old masters over 2 floors. This is no coincidental placement, this is done for impact. Its designed as if it were a treasure hunt. I followed my personal map with the quest to spot the refreshingly bright, contemporary art. Intimate and revealing pieces.

Comfort Blanket

What this exhibition did for me, was to challenge the archetypical imagery of portraiture. Understanding its not just about a photographic painted image of a head and shoulders, which in truth tells us little of the persons life, what Grayson does is capture the notion of 'identity' and the multiple aspects that make a sense of identity.

     A genius exhibition, a contemporary twist on tradition.

Visited National Portrait Gallery, London. March 2015