An artist that I have been looking at that uses identity in his work is Grayson Perry. For him, it's not so much about what a subject looks like as who they are. Grayson wants to play psychological detective, peel back a few layers and masks, in search of clues to a core of that person. He uses many different techniques to achieve this, one advantage Perry has is the innate ability to slip among people and lure normal folk to chat and explain themselves in terms everyone understands.
Grayson Perry tackles subjects in his work that are universally human like identity, gender, social status, sexuality, and religion. He tries to deal with them in a way that is accessible and yet not patronising. Autobiographical references – to the artist's childhood, his family and his transvestite alter ego Claire – can be read in tandem with questions about décor and decorum, class and taste, and the status of the artist versus that of the artisan. Perry uses the seductive qualities of ceramics and other art forms to make stealthy comments about society, its pleasures as well as it injustices and flaws, and to explore a variety of historical and contemporary themes. He works with traditional media such as ceramics, cast iron, bronze, printmaking and tapestry, and is interested in how each historic category of object accrues intellectual and emotional baggage over time. Covered with graffito drawings, handwritten and stenciled texts, photographic transfers and rich glazes, Perry's detailed pots are deeply alluring. Only when we are up close do we start to absorb narratives that might allude to dark subjects such as environmental disaster or child abuse, and even then the narrative flow can be hard to discern.
Grayson doesnt only use photograpghy to reinforce his ideas and social beliefs, he acomplishes this through cretaing sculputures and art. He has created a vase inspired by former energy secretary Chris Huhne - decorated with images of penises and speed cameras to symbolise his characteristics. The Turner Prize-winner used the images to portray the former leading Lib-Dem politician's downfall as he endeavoured to capture his essence in a new series to be screened by Channel 4 that i have watched to gain an extra insight in the way Grayson attempts to anyalise deeply.
Grayson doesnt only use photograpghy to reinforce his ideas and social beliefs, he acomplishes this through cretaing sculputures and art. He has created a vase inspired by former energy secretary Chris Huhne - decorated with images of penises and speed cameras to symbolise his characteristics. The Turner Prize-winner used the images to portray the former leading Lib-Dem politician's downfall as he endeavoured to capture his essence in a new series to be screened by Channel 4 that i have watched to gain an extra insight in the way Grayson attempts to anyalise deeply.
"Courage cannot be found or fabricated but emerges from within when one has the courage to let go.”
- GRAYSON PERRY
Perry interviewed Huhne, a politicion, a week before he went to jail, the artist said: “He was there as a powerful white male who potentially was going to lose some of that power. I was interested in what effect prison and that condemnation would have on his confidence and identity.” Perry then interviewed Huhne on the morning of his release. Had he changed, asked Hattenstone? “Of course he hasn’t changed. There’s not a flicker. I was fascinated and appalled. I’m white, male, middle-aged myself, and if there’s one aspect I feel alienated by, it’s the class thing. So to see someone with that chutzpah and bullet-proof, Teflon, confidence close up is fascinating. And sort of horrifying. At one point, he bragged and said something like, ‘I must be the only politician who comes out of prison without changing’. All that has contributed to the finished vase which was purposefully smashed by Perry and then repaired using an ancient Chinese technique which involves lacquer resin dusted or mixed with gold. The Huhne vase has been decorated with the motifs of Huhne’s face, his H11HNE number plate and a penis. Perry said: “This is a riposte to the common Default Man’s defence that he is an ‘individual’ and his achievements and behaviour have nothing to do with group identity. I have smashed the pot and had it repaired with gold to symbolise that vulnerability might be an asset in relationships to such a person.”
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Using Grayson Perry as an influence for my work, I have looked at the way in which he has used objects to portray an individuals personally and character. He has successfully demonstrated how only using symbols can clearly identify a person, their hobbies, dreams, ambitions, feelings etc. Through this mini photoshoot I aimed to take a series of images that explore how people are remembered and what we can tell of a person through their possessions through concentrating specifically on their personality, interests, likes and passions which will help me pick out the best objects.
I have taken a series of images of objects that I have a strong connection with my sister who is a make-up artist, passionate speaker, and a loving and caring person. The possessions that I have personally taken from her for the final image, I arranged them differently and not in a consecutive order due to her being a messy person. I have ensured that the objects that I'm using have the vibrant colours that are needed to represent her personality traits, the bright colours show her positive vibes.
Through the subjects I have chosen, the interpretations created could be that the certain individual cares a lot about their outside appearance because of the picture frame and how they are being presented. The overall image consists of many small pretty things such as the lipsticks, sunglasses and glamorised jewellery that present beauty in different ways.
Through the subjects I have chosen, the interpretations created could be that the certain individual cares a lot about their outside appearance because of the picture frame and how they are being presented. The overall image consists of many small pretty things such as the lipsticks, sunglasses and glamorised jewellery that present beauty in different ways.