The Tomb of the Unknown craftsmen

Hold Your Beliefs Lightly (2011)

Grayson Perry

The British Museum

It is awkward and fun to see the what Grayson Perry has been allowed to achieve at the British Museum. Inspired by the fact that most of the artefacts of the collection actually comes from tombs and is made by "unknown craftsmen", Grayson Perry has picked pieces that inspires him and then displayed it together with his own contemporary tapestry, sculptures and drawings. With each piece he has picked he gives an explanation of why the particular object is touching to him, and then it is matched with a "Comparable" adaption that he has created. The whole concept together makes it a very enjoyable viewing.

Pilgrimage to the British Museum, 2011

On his pilgrimage to (and through) the British Museum his 50 year old Teddy, Alan Measles is quite prominent. Alan Measles was the dictator of his childhood imaginary world. Notice... he still is as he is represented in most of his work, as some sort of God like creature. 

Grayson Perry has earlier been his bodyguard he says, but now he is a guru and lives in his personal cosmology.

Grayson Perry and Alan Measles aboard AM1on the Nurburgring

motor racing circuit, Germany, 2010

Here Alan Measles travels to meet the world in his personal backseat shrine, like the Pope in his "Popemobile". They went to Germany to make peace!

Grayson Perry is well known for his great costumes;

"One fact that every transvestite has to come to terms with is that a person dressed up in the clothes of the opposite sex is somehow inherently funny. This can be a very difficult aspect of being a cross-dresser and I  feel it has profoundly shaped my own outlook on life. I regard humor as an important and necessary aspect of art." Grayson Perry

Our Mother, 2009

"I am not a historian, I am an artist. That is all you need to know"
- Grayson Perry

Still he brings art history a new perspective. Here is Grayson's version of a pilgrim. How we like to bring back souvenirs from our traveling as tokens of memory. This iron sculpture also has a male (Our Father) counterpart, as Grayson says "They carry the weight of many different cultures and conflicts as well as the domestic and familiar. They are all of us and also from somewhere else."

The Rosetta vase, 2011

Grayson Perry began ceramic lessons in 1983, his pottery now is like a map of our culture today.

Grayson Perry Map Silk scarf (collectible)

(Bought this silk scarf, excited for it to drop in my mailbox)

I wish I could show you the entertaining details of his work... but for that you will have to visit The British Museum. You still have time for the adventure, the exhibit is up until 19th of February 2012, I promise you will see an unrivaled exhibit.

With Love

Kristin

Frieze 2011

Elmgreen & Dragset

The Fruit of Knowledge, 2011

Books, metal stand, bronze, silicon, buffalo hair

Courtesy Victoria Miro Gallery, © The Artist

FRIEZE

London 2011

It is London's ART week of the year and it has been packed with events from Philips de Pury's, The Saatchi Gallery & Channel 4's "The Future can wait". To the rather rock concert looking opening of the largest European commercial art space, The White Cube in Bermondsey. 

Yesterday was the private view opening of the Frieze in Regents Park, followed by the happening Vanity Fair party at Christie's.

The word is out that what is being shown at Frieze this year is carefully selected, the quality is high and quite many unfamiliar names are being shown together with the usual money hit makers.

Barnaby Hosking

Thoughts (Butterflies) 10, 2011

brass butterfly sculpture installation; 12 pieces

various dimensions

Max Wigram Gallery

The simple effects of these brass butterfly wings and their shadows, made me once again stop at a Barnaby Hosking piece (another piece by the same artist is being auctioned by Phillips de Pury this week) . A young artist that is quickly turning into a familiar name.

FOS

Nothing Disappears Only Our Amnesia Arises, 2004

Mixed media: wood, aluminium and birds

Max Wigram Gallery

Perhaps not the best image of the lively birdcage sculpture, but fascinating it is. Anything caged often has a cringing effect, but at the same time being caged these days could actually mean survival. 

Franz West

Gagosian

Late last night when I was on my way home from the Vanity Fair Party, I was reading a post by Artinfo saying that the sale at the Frieze was sparse... That post might have been written too soon. Yes, there was perhaps no buying frenzy but a lot of the good pieces was taken quite quickly. 

What I did see related to recession was perhaps the use of phallic symbols, and that could possibly be seen as a reaction to men's vulnerability when jobs are sparse? Funny enough bananas was a repeat object as well. This large sculpture by Franz West was sold quite early... 

Paul McCarthy (b.1945)

Steven and the Big Leg, 2008

oil clay, fiberglass, polyurethane foam, resin, wood, steel, bucket.

Hauser & Wirth

Martha Friedman

Cucumber, 2003, 2011

Plexiglass, polyurethane, paint, steel

Wallspace (N.Y.)

The rather long... cucumber piece is quite amusing. Here with the Wallspace gallerists and Art consultant Pier Vegner Tosta. 

A piece that was creating quite a buzz at the fair was the sale of a luxury yacht by the artist Christian Jankowski. It is offered for £60m as a yacht and £75m as an art piece authenticated by the artist. Is this a prank? A gut hitting over the top stunt to show the world how some can throw their money where their appetite lays? I am going to believe that, until I see if it will be sold or not.

Henrik Olesen

Gallery Daniel Bucholz (Berlin, Cologne)

Tacita Dean

Blackboard paint, fibre-based print mounted on paper

Frith Street Gallery

The world is watching Tacita Dean these days, especially with her film addition to the Unilever series at the Tate Modern. She won the Hugo Boss prize in 2006 which is one of my favorite prizes. How I miss the exhibits that the Guggenheim was throwing for the nominated years ago in Soho. Now the space has turned into the infamous Prada store and the Hugo Boss prize is only presenting the winner.

Elmgreen & Dragset

Steel, wood, dummy in latex, shoes, blackboard, jewels

Untitled (unique), 2011

I am turning into a great fan of the Elmgreen & Dragset duo (Norwegian and Danish). They continue to amuse and surprise and at the same time bringing serious issues to the forefront.

Ken Okiishi

Alex Zachary (New York)

Alex Zachary's booth was filled with these swinging Zebra umbrellas.

Grayson Perry

Map of Truths and Beliefs, 2011

Wool and cotton tapestry woven by Flanders Tapestries from files prepared at Factum Arte

Courtesy Victoria Miro Gallery, © The Artist

Grayson Perry's tapestry was were my heart went at this fair, I could look at this for hours. It is exquisite and thought provoking. The piece made me look forward to viewing his exhibit "The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman" that is currently at the British Museum (it opened the 6th of October and runs until 19th of February (2012).

Frieze

With Love

Kristin