The biggest exhibition to date of work by celebrated artist Sir Grayson Perry has opened at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh.
Grayson Perry: Smash Hits presents more than 80 works spanning the artist’s career, from the first pieces he made as a student in Portsmouth to his most famous pots, prints, sculptures and tapestries.
Grayson Perry has gone from taking evening classes in pottery to being one of Britain’s most celebrated artists. He is a Turner Prize winner, a regular TV presenter and has written several books. Described as being “always keen to do the unexpected”, this exhibition reveals Grayson Perry’s artistic journey by focusing on themes which include masculinity, sexuality, class, religion, politics and identity.
Smash Hits brings together all the artist’s detailed prints and imaginary maps, and features many of his tapestries, including the rarely shown Walthamstow Tapestry (2009), a life-journey presented through shopping and brand names, and the monumental series Vanity of Small Differences (2012).
Plus the cast iron ship Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman (2011) and new works made for this exhibition, including pots and plates exploring themes of national identity.
The exhibition also includes objects chosen from Perry’s recent Channel 4 docuseries, Grayson Perry’s Full English, in which he travelled around the country trying to uncover what Englishness means today.
Grayson Perry said:
“I feel honoured, excited and also daunted by the thought of seeing the largest ever exhibition of my work this summer in Edinburgh. Honoured to be given such an opportunity in such a fine gallery, excited to share my smash hits with the Scottish audience and Edinburgh festival crowds. Daunted because whenever I walk amongst a substantial show of my art the same thought floods into my head, ‘oh my god the man hours!’. Forty smashing years.”
Grayson Perry: Smash Hits is now open at Royal Scottish Academy. The exhibition is presented by National Galleries of Scotland with the support of Victoria Miro and Paragon Press. For further information: nationalgalleries.org
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Image: Grayson Perry: Smash Hits photo by Nick Mailer Photography