Grayson Perry Serpentine Gallery London
When I visited this exhibition my immediate reaction was – those eyes are looking out at me gazing back at them. Grayson Perry Serpentine Gallery London:
What is going on?
What did I make of the works?
That figure is drawing me in, inviting me to participate in what’s going on.
Aesthetically pleasing? Somewhat. Colourful, story-telling? Somewhat. Embarrassment and challenging my beliefs, values, preconceptions, perspectives on life, society and roles, gender, transgender? Certainly.
That’s what I believe is Grayson’s achievement: he encourages you to reflect, to question where you’re coming from, to challenge your views, prejudices, hang ups.
To ask yourself ‘why am I reading into this work such and such’ ‘am I embarrassed by certain images and hence … why?’
‘What is it about my perspectives on this subject matter; that image, this figure, those eyes, these devices … that is causing me to force myself to look (why am I not comfortable?), to identify my value judgements and maybe question them?’
‘What is it about me and where I’m coming from?
I’m drawn into the works to then look back at me through the works’ eyes, and try to get a greater understanding of myself. And then I can accept what I see within myself or reject it – am I being true or false … to myself?
That’s my interpretation of Grayson Perry’s achievement.