Grayson Perry Watch: Separated At Birth?

DEPUTY Labour leader Harriet Harman today revealed she was mistaken for cross-dressing artist Grayson Perry after a fringe event during the party’s annual conference.

The Scotsman.

I’m used to people coming up to me and saying well done on the Olympics, because they think I’m Tessa Jowell. But I didn’t quite know how to react when this time I was leaving a fringe and on the way out I overheard someone say “why has Grayson Perry just made a speech at USDAW?”

From her speech to conference yesterday.

William Hogarth: Progress

Bedlam, David Hockney.

To mark the 250th anniversary of Hogarth’s death, Progress brings together for the first time three great contemporary responses to his eternally modern moral tale, A Rake’s Progress. David Hockney’s A Rake’s Progress, 1961-3, Yinka Shonibare MBE’s Diary of a Victorian Dandy, 1998, and Grayson Perry’s The Vanity of Small Differences, 2012, are shown alongside Hogarth’s original 1735 prints and joined by a newly commissioned work by Jessie Brennan.

Hogarth’s popularity with both artists and the public has endured for over two hundred years, and his work has provided inspiration to successive generations. Hockney, Shonibare and Perry not only update Hogarth’s searing social commentary, they also add their own personal concerns to the creative dialogue. Commissioning an emerging female artist to respond to Hogarth’s work, the Foundling Museum further develops the conversation.

Exploring issues of sexuality, race, class, vice, temptation, youth and urban living this exhibition both highlights Hogarth’s continuing relevance and allows us to consider the idea of ‘progress’.

The Foundling Museum, London. 

And look! Here's Claire going to the star-studded opening bash.

A member of the establishment off to the works do. pic.twitter.com/I0pTR3rH4t
— Alan Measles (@Alan_Measles) June 3, 2014

PS Booze, Whores And High Living, Guardian article on Hogarth and your actual modern art.

Grayson Perry: Now Open For Antiquity

Grayson Perry's exhibition at the British Museum, The Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman, opens today, you know?
In about quarter of an hour to be precise.
Sadly Fag Burn Blue didn't make the finalists of the Alan Measles Stunt Double competition.
But please don't go organising a cultural boycott or nuffink.
Think I'll go a week tomorrow...

Grayson Perry: Vote For Fagburn!

The unquestionably wonderful and beyond great Grayson Perry has curated a new exhibition at the British Museum, The Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman.
"An installation of his new works alongside objects made by unknown men and women throughout history from the British Museum’s collection."
It'll be amazing, obviously.
And as it's at the British Museum, you can go and look at all the old statues of fellas in the nip!
But... if you go online there's a competition to find stunt doubles for Grayson's teddy bear, Alan Measles.
"The 12 finalists face the public vote to find the three winning teddies to ride on the back of Grayson's motorbike during his exhibition."
One of these teddies goes by the majestic-sounding name Fag Burn Blue.
I think you know what to do.