Grayson Perry
Britain is Best, 2014
Embroidery
Framed
Excellent condition
Framed
Excellent condition
120 x 100 cm
47 1/4 x 39 3/8 in
Framed: 132 x 111 cm. (52 x 43.7 in.)
47 1/4 x 39 3/8 in
Framed: 132 x 111 cm. (52 x 43.7 in.)
Edition of 20
Accompanied by signed and numbered certificate
£65,000 GBP (+ vat for UK)
Britain is Best by Grayson Perry is a 2014 tapestry from in a small edition of 20. On the intricate and expertly executed work, Perry says, 'These are five loyalists...
Britain is Best by Grayson Perry is a 2014 tapestry from in a small edition of 20. On the intricate and expertly executed work, Perry says, "These are five loyalists from East Belfast. Four of them participated in a march I witnessed commemorating the centenary of the founding of the Ulster Volunteer Force and I was fascinated by how exotic it felt. Ironically, being fervently patriotic is not a particularly British trait. Their portrait is in the form of an embroidered banner that might be carried aloft on a march. I deliberately chose a very colourful and jolly style as the murals that are everywhere in East Belfast veer heavily towards the dour and aggressive.'
The bright neon colours, the cartoonish expressions and the craftsmanship make this an arresting and exceptional work by the multi-disciplined Perry,
Interestingly, aside from Perry's commentary, many have drawn connections between the people on horseback and characters from Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'. The Tales features a diverse range of characters, like the Knight, the Wife of Bath, the Miller, and the Pardoner. Each represents different societal roles and perspectives. Linking them to Grayson Perry's "Britain is Best," the tapestry draws parallels to Chaucer's critique of social classes and human nature. The characters on horseback may represent modern-day equivalents of Chaucer's pilgrims, each with unique traits and stories, painting a rich tapestry of British society.
The bright neon colours, the cartoonish expressions and the craftsmanship make this an arresting and exceptional work by the multi-disciplined Perry,
Interestingly, aside from Perry's commentary, many have drawn connections between the people on horseback and characters from Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'. The Tales features a diverse range of characters, like the Knight, the Wife of Bath, the Miller, and the Pardoner. Each represents different societal roles and perspectives. Linking them to Grayson Perry's "Britain is Best," the tapestry draws parallels to Chaucer's critique of social classes and human nature. The characters on horseback may represent modern-day equivalents of Chaucer's pilgrims, each with unique traits and stories, painting a rich tapestry of British society.