Artful Parodies and Whimsical Dreams: The World of Grayson Perry

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July is turning into a my culture month ahead of the festival landing – went to see the Grayson Perry retrospective at the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh yesterday with my mommy.

Putting aside the terrible choice of venue, the National Galleries of Scotland is a beautiful and prestigious institution, but it is not necessarily the best place to show work that is as subversive and challenging as Perry’s. I think the Gallery of Modern Art would have been a more natural home for this exhibition.

In his retrospective at the National Galleries of Scotland (Royal Scottish Academy), Grayson Perry reveals a synthesis of his true self and aspirations. In his artwork, “Reclining Artist,” Perry presents a fantasy version of himself, embracing both masculine and feminine qualities. This 2017 vision is an authentic and captivating work, as he gazes seriously at the viewer, breaking away from his familiar blokey persona.

Perry’s undeniable talent in creating detailed images is apparent, yet some of his works suffer from clutter and symbolism overload. For instance, his childhood teddy bear, Alan Measles, seems to occupy an excessive presence in his art, losing some of its symbolic power over time. Nevertheless, Perry playfully portrays his attachment to Alan Measles, making it a self-aware parody rather than a monomania. Perry is not afraid to experiment and to push the boundaries of what we expect from art. He is constantly trying new things, and sometimes this results in works that are not entirely successful. But even when his work is flawed, it is always thought-provoking and engaging.

The exhibition’s theme revolves around Englishness, but Perry’s meditations on national identity lack the depth of George Orwell’s analyses. Despite this, his artwork, “Comfort Blanket,” humorously highlights some aspects of inclusive Englishness, which may resonate with Brexiteers too.

While Perry’s understanding of the English middle class is evident, some of his works lack passion and courage, leaning towards flippancy and satire. Despite his prolific career, he occasionally veers into the territory of whimsy and empty quotation. Nevertheless, Perry has become popular and beloved by sharing the English middle class’s ambivalence towards art, appealing to the national prejudice against those who take themselves too seriously.

In conclusion, Grayson Perry’s art embodies a blend of whimsy and satire, reflecting his exploration of ‘identity’ and Englishness. While some of his works may be perceived as lacking depth, they resonate with audiences who appreciate his humorous and self-conscious approach. As an artist, Perry’s journey continues to provoke thought and laughter, making him a distinctive figure in modern British art.

“It’s not like learning to play the violin, where you can be demonstrably talented at a young age. With art, you really need to find your own voice and that takes a while. Actually, it’s a marathon – and if you are eventually original, you’re lucky.”

Grayson Perry

the sun is shining

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Another found post in the ‘drafts’ folder, from 2010 I think

what a scorcher. sea’s of red cover the capital. drunken boys and girls frolic on the meadows while drunken men and women argue on the promenade – ah the burgh in the sun x

was checking out a friend of a friends company website last night – http://www.cagoule.tv/ – who make movies, well shorts and music videos etc. some nice stuff.

Has AI just taken my job?

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The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic of conversation in recent weeks. Some people believe that AI will eventually replace most jobs, while others believe that it will create new ones and endless opportunities.

One company that is at the forefront of the AI revolution is Spinach.io. Spinach.io is an AI-powered platform that helps teams run more efficient meetings. The platform uses AI to transcribe meetings, generate meeting notes, and identify key decisions and actions. It integrates with Zoom, Teams, Jira, slack and more. You invite it to your meeting and it passively takes notes for you and spits them out to slack – this demo explains it better https://youtu.be/5Z5a-KCUcRY 

So, what does this mean for the future of work? 

It is hard to say for sure. However, it is clear that AI is already having an impact on the workforce. For example, AI is being used to automate tasks in customer service, manufacturing, and healthcare. This is leading to job losses in some sectors, but it is also creating new jobs in others.

In the case of Spinach.io, the platform is likely to become a valuable tool for project managers or anyone managing teams, and that is maybe a better way to look at AI . . . as a tool. AI has already created a large number of new jobs and even created a new industry platform. For example, Spinach.io is hiring engineers, data scientists, and product managers to build and improve its platform. So there is definitely disruption coming for many industries and human interactions will continue to change but there are also opportunities and new experiences to be had. 

So, while AI is likely to have an impact on the workforce, it is not clear that it will lead to widespread job losses. In fact, it is more likely that AI will create new jobs and opportunities if we embrace it.

Peter Howson exhibition at city arts centre

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I went to see the Peter Howson exhibition at the weekend with my mum. Little disappointed but great to see his work “in person” and a get a feel for its scale.

The early work section features some of Howson’s most famous paintings, such as “The Butcher Boy” and “The Crucifixion of the Dog.” These paintings are powerful and disturbing, but they are also incredibly beautiful. They offer a unique and often unsettling glimpse into Howson’s world.

However the religious works did nothing for me – better stuff by better artists at the mound if you want religious nonsense.

Peter Howson retrospective

The Bosnia section features Howson’s paintings from the 1990s, when he was war artist in Bosnia. I have vivid memories of them as it was the same year Jay was born. These paintings are some of the most powerful and disturbing work that Howson has ever produced. They offer a raw and unfiltered look at the horrors of war. Yet it felt a little tame – like they chose the least offensive (triggering) images – and I would have liked to see more of his sketches of that period. It was a brutal war that Europe just let happen, with no intervention, and exposed the UN as the useless organisation it is. It affected Mr Howson deeply and after watching the videos and reading his commentary it comes across as if he went through 20 years of art therapy and swapped one addiction for a religious one.

No hooligans either which was a giant disappointment as they were my favourite pieces by Howson.

As poster states – on until 10 October @ the City Arts Centre. Overall, the Peter Howson exhibition at the City Arts Centre is a must-see for anyone interested in Scottish art. It is a powerful and moving exhibition that offers a unique glimpse into the mind of one of Scotland’s most important artists.

East of Eden

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Just finished East of Eden by John Steinbeck – ended with me in tears but what a lovely story.

East of Eden, published in 1952. It is a sprawling and often brutal novel that follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.

The novel is set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, and it begins with the story of Adam Trask, a wealthy man who marries Cathy Ames, a beautiful but unstable woman. The Trasks have twin sons, Cal and Aron, but Cathy is unable to love either of them. She abandons the family when the boys are young, and Adam is left to raise them alone.

Cal and Aron grow up to be very different men. Cal is impulsive and hot-headed, while Aron is gentle and kind. Cal is driven by a desire to win his father’s love, while Aron is content to simply be loved.

The novel follows the lives of Cal, Aron, and their descendants as they struggle with the legacy of their parents. Cal is haunted by his mother’s abandonment, and he tries to win his father’s love through his actions. Aron is more successful in winning his father’s love, but he is also more vulnerable to his mother’s influence.

The novel explores the themes of good and evil, love and hate, and the nature of family. It is a complex and powerful novel that I found very moving and poignant. I found comparisons with my own family life and liked how Steinbeck described and captured the interactions between siblings and the effects of a dramatic change has on a family.

Bard helped

New teachings, new learnings

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So old man loves to learn and has been lucky enough to have found time this year to explore some new teachings. 

Firstly I have picked up Python again and have been learning all about version 3 and trying to become proficient again. By mentioning this in my blog now, anyone can pull me up and ask how I am getting on – this should prompt me to continue the learnings – feel free to suggest some projects I can complete. However I must try not to disappear down rabbit holes like https://www.modular.com/mojo which will be what I move onto once I get through the Udemy course (https://www.udemy.com/course/complete-python-bootcamp/) from Jose Portilla (https://www.udemy.com/user/joseportilla/).

Secondly I have committed to improve my Spanish from the tourist drivel of “dos cervezas, por favor” that got me by in my 20s, travelling Spain with Ricardo and Graham. I have trusted that learning to Duolingo (https://www.duolingo.com/), which I have to say I am really enjoying and dare I jinx it, feel like some of it is sticking. I will be looking for some Spanish speakers in August to start practicing if you fancy helping and have lots of patience. I am enjoying learning Spanish, it is such a beautiful language and will be fun to be able to communicate with people from other cultures.

Thirdly the good old guitar. Jeez I cannot count the number of times I have tried to learn the guitar and never been successful. I am not sure if I am tone deaf or if I just do not have the patience, more likely just have zero talent when it comes to music. However I will strum away and attempt yet again to learn some basic tunes. Kumbaya might be the best I can do.

I am excited to continue learning, with the future so uncertain it is hard to know what skills will be needed in 6 months let alone 2 years, but I am open to new challenges and welcome the coming changes. I would also like to share my learnings and experiences with others, but have not found a way to do that yet?

If you are interested in learning new skills, I encourage you to give it a try. It is never too late to learn something new, and it is very rewarding to achieve a goal.

I hope you enjoyed my blog post. Please feel free to leave a comment below.

“The mind is like a muscle.
The more you use it, the stronger it gets.”

– Henry Ford

Found art – cardboard farts

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Some old scribbles (here) from Leith Walk studio days, which have made me reflect, in an increasingly complex world, the allure of simplicity shines ever more brightly – especially within the arena of contemporary art. As we navigate the noise and clutter of our daily existence, art that champions simplicity and minimalism offers a soothing balm, an understated elegance that becomes a sanctuary.

Our present is one of information overload; a time when our senses are relentlessly bombarded with an influx of visuals, narratives, and data. Herein lies the beauty of simplicity in art – it is an oasis of calm in the cacophony, a silent song that speaks louder than most.

Art has perennially been a mirror to society, reflecting its changing values, evolving trends, and the zeitgeist of the times. Today’s hyper-digital, ultra-rapid pace has led to an intriguing pattern – a palpable shift towards minimalist, less cluttered expressions of creativity. The art world seems to be favoring cleaner lines, more streamlined aesthetics, monochromatic color palettes, and a reduced number of elements.

Simplicity in art is not synonymous with being basic or uninspiring; instead, it’s a conscious choice to highlight the essence of the artwork. Simple art is an invitation to contemplation. It paves the way for a more profound and intimate connection between the viewer and the artwork, urging us to pause, delve deeper, and discover the beauty in ‘less.’

Pioneers of this approach, like Agnes Martin, Robert Ryman, and Ellsworth Kelly, understood the power of simplicity in their minimalistic and hard-edge paintings. Their work taught us that less could indeed be more, and that by carefully removing unnecessary elements, the essential message of a piece can make a stronger impact.

In the modern ‘art’ world, Banksy has also demonstrated the compelling power of simplicity. Through his monochromatic stencils that blend satire, subversion, and simplicity, he has used a bare minimum of visual elements to communicate potent political and societal critiques. His ‘Balloon Girl,’ one of his most recognisable works, is an epitome of simplicity: a little girl, reaching for a heart-shaped balloon, both elements simple yet collectively delivering a powerful commentary on hope, love, and innocence.

The allure of simplicity transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. It’s a universal language that connects at an instinctual level, tying into our shared human experiences and emotions.

However, simplicity in art should not be mistaken for a lack of effort or skill. Rather, it’s about mastering the ability to convey an idea, a message, or an emotion with utmost efficiency. As the legendary designer Dieter Rams succinctly put it, “Good design is as little design as possible.”

In an age where excess often rules, it is usually the simplest things that resonate the most with us. Art is no different. A return to simplicity serves as a potent reminder to appreciate the essential, to understand the significance of every line, shape, and colour, and to acknowledge that, often, less is indeed more.

https://shielyule.com/portfolio/cardboard-art/