The tour prompts me to review the Catalogue of the tapestry project of the television programme. I'm really pleased to have been sent a copy of the book of The Vanity of Small Differences for review.
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| Front Cover of the book of the exhibition of the tapestries arising out of the television series! by Grayson Perry Published by Haward Publishing |
Background: A brief synopsis of the artwork and how it came about
The Vanity of Small Difference is a very important piece of contemporary art - which was conceived as a public work of art. It comprises six Tapestries listed below together with links to Grayson Perry's explanation of what the tapestries are about.- The Adoration of the Cage Fighters
- Expulsion from Number 8 Eden Close
- The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal
- The Upper Class at Bay
- The Agony in the Car Park
- Lamentation
The piece explores British taste. It's a contemporary version of Hogarth's 'Rake's Progress' and also reprises classic artworks (puns in the titles of tapestries provide clues!) in contemporary form. It all started with a safari around UK. Grayson Perry visited different groups of people - in Sunderland, Tunbridge Wells and the Cotswolds - which resulted in a BAFTA award-winning Channel 4 series ‘All in the Best Possible Taste with Grayson Perry’ (2012). His visits to places strongly identified with social classes investigated the taste of the different tribes of people in terms of class and social mobility and unearthed more than a few surrprises.
The other thing you need to know is that Grayson Perry is very intelligent, acutely observant of contemporary mores - and finally, he's truly astonishing in the way in which he manages to be both very articulate with very accessible. I'm a huge fan!
Synopsis: This book is the catalogue of the exhibition of The Vanity of Small Differences - an iconic piece of contemporary art based on research by Grayson Perry into contemporary taste, social class and class mobility. It tells the story - and shows us the processes - of how he developed tapestries telling the story of Tim Rakewell and his progress through life to his death. The name is a link to the Tom Rakewell of the Rake's Progress. The book explains how the tapestries came about and provides a commentary on what they reveal.
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Summary review: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: This is an essential guide to a multi-layered, culturally rich and very important set of tapestries. A contemporary tale, an iconic artwork - and an interesting story about how the tapestries were produced plus excellent publication values all combine to make this both a very interesting and a very high quality publication.
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Average customer review
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Highlights
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Think Again?
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Who should buy this?:
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Who should not buy this?
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| Author: Grayson Perry Publisher: Hayward Publishing (UK 10 June 2013 | USA 31 October 2013) Technical data: Hardcover| 128 pages | 21.5 x 25 cm | 120 colour and black and white illustrations
Available as an ebook? No - however an app about the Tapestries is available |
Digital guide
The Arts Council Collection have created an app for iPad and iPhone. This gives you commentary on Perry's perspective, details art historical references and provides a guide to the making of the works. You can see the tapestries up close with detailed zoom facility and have Grayson's own audio guide. Reproductions of the classical referenced artwork are disappointly tiny. They work better when accessed via the interactive aspect of the app. The bonus is Grayson Perry reading the words associated with each tapestry and highlighting the similarities between classical painting and his tapestry.
The digital guide,Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences, is available only on the App Store (£1.99).
These include the following. The link in the title is to the exhibition page at that location.
The Vanity of Small Differences - The Tour
Exhibitions to date
These include the following. The link in the title is to the exhibition page at that location.
- Gallery I Victoria Miro, 16 Wharf Road, London N1 7RW (7 Jun - 11 Aug 2012)
- Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden - the location for two of the patesries on 28 June, as part of the Festival of the North East which celebrates the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to Durham Cathedral. It is of particular significance that the works begin their public tour in Sunderland as this is where Grayson sets two of the tapestries, The Adoration of the Cage Fighters and The Agony in the Car Park.
- Perry’s own edition of The Vanity of Small Differences was displayed as part of the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2013 (June - August 2013) - see my review 10 reasons to visit the RA Summer Exhibition 2013 - my #1 reason was the set of tapestries which got a room to themselves.
- Manchester Art Gallery (24 October – 21 January 2014)
Future Tour Dates:
- Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (14 February – 11 May 2014),
- Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool (May – August 2014) and
- Leeds City Art Gallery (1 August – 1 October 2014).
- An international tour will follow.
