Grayson Perry : Who Are You?

Grayson Perry: Who Are You?

Grayson Perry is an English Artist mainly known for his Ceramic Vases, however for this program you get to see all his ideas and skills come to life in a hard hitting and remarkable program. Using 4 subjects to tackle in a very psychological way that explores each of their personalities and appearances.

What it means to you?

This programme meant a lot to me because it really made me open up my eyes to the experiences many people go through and this really engaged me throughout the programme. The part i felt the most to me was the overall approach the program took, it made you listen and watch what people have done in their past,present and what they are to do in their future. It allowed you access to the certain people life’s and what they have done e.g. the english women that changed to islam as she felt it saved her from the past she had once had, and also the transgender girl who is now in the process to become a buy. This is all very raw material but it really lets you see all the aspects and why certain things have happened in their lives.

How was it made?

Throughout the program he spends time with each of his subjects, constructing a mental idea of them and their character which he portrays in the pieces for them. I think it is a clever take on personality and the program was well paced in a way that i found it quite gripping and entertaining even with not fully understanding some of the creations but instead understanding the meaning behind them.

I liked the people he chose and how he connected with them from the first time of meeting them.

The first person we saw was Cabinet minister Chris Huhne, i felt that he was probably his hardest subject to capture because he uncomfortable sharing his deeper thoughts which made it hard for the audience to grasp the true him. We met Huhne on the eve of his sentencing, he had a nice supper with Chris and also his girlfriend, they had lentils and tuna.The reason for Grayson choosing Chris was to try and portray his fall from grace which was very true in his circumstances.

Rylan was next. Grayson made him into a small drawing which was printed onto an old Elizabethan Noble piece/broche. I felt this was a clever idea because it represented how he was lucky to be were he is and really he is only famous due to this. Meaning the broche piece was small but from first glance you were drawn to it straight which is just like Rylan.

Next was the british who converted to a muslim. The piece Grayson created for her was astonishing, it was a Hijab which on it depicted her struggle in her past to what is her present and every detail was spectacular in this piece and it really opened your eyes to see how he created it on photoshop. I really enjoyed this piece a lot.

The final person was Jazz who is a transgendered man who was born a woman however is now in the process of becoming a man. Grayson Perry himself has struggled with his sexuality being a transvestite so this meant he was able to relate to Jazz and create a piece that represented him just right. Jazz was done as a statue of manliness and also peter pan as this incorporated personality and appearance in Jazz’s eyes.

What are your thoughts on the show?

I felt that a large portion/ the whole programme was staged in a way that you believed it to be reality but actually it is constructed to make you think this is a hard life that we are all equal etc. My favourite part of this programme was the reveal of the 4 pieces due to the very abstract and arranged approaches he took. The way the show was made was very clever in the way it was layer out for each person and the stories you got from each. Overall it was extremely enjoyable.