Turner Prize glory for transvestite potter
A transvestite potter who decorates vases with images of sex and child abuse has won the Turner Prize.
Grayson Perry, 43, collected the £20,000 prize at a ceremony at Tate Britain in London, dressed as his alter ego Claire.
The artist, who is married with a daughter, wore a £2,500 embroidered frock specially commissioned for the event. It featured leaping rabbits with the words "Sissy" and "Claire" as well as pictures of frowning hearts and flowers, which he said depicted an inversion of a happy childhood.
Perry has said he was deeply affected as a child after his mother ran off with the milkman. Collecting the prize, a delighted Perry said: "It's about time a transvestite potter won the Turner Prize. I think the art world had more difficulty coming to terms with me being a potter than my choice of frocks.
"I think it's appropriate to quote Philip Larkin, but they won't let me because it's before the watershed," the artist said in reference to Channel 4's live coverage of the event. Two years ago Madonna upset some viewers when she shouted a four letter word before handing over the prize.
Perry said he expected to spend the prize money on his wife, motorbikes and his daughter Florence's school fees. Collecting the award, he said he thought he should thank some of the dealers and curators who had helped him over the years.
But he said: "I only want to thank one person, my wife Philippa - she's been my best editor, sponsor, supporter and mainly my lover. Thank you." Afterwards Perry said of his win: "I'm really shocked because I thought I was going to lose."
He said his wife, a psychotherapist, had read the body language of the other nominees and convinced him it would not be his year. "It was dramatic, I was shocked," he said. "The world's a scary place to the young little innocent plant like me," he joked.
The decision to grant Perry the award marks a rare Turner victory for traditional arts, as the winner puts his own spin on an ancient decorative form. Perry said: "I'm not a standard bearer for ceramics. People say 'Is the art world accepting ceramics?'. I say no, they're accepting Grayson Perry."
Sir Nicholas Serota, one of the judges, said: "I don't think the choice is a strategic choice, I think the jury felt strongly that these were the works of a very strong artist who happens to be using ceramics and drawing. I don't think this is the year of the pot."
Story filed: 07:04 Monday 8th December 2003
― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 8 December 2003 08:07 (twenty-two years ago)
ed among the things i found strange
"Perry has said he was deeply affected as a child after his mother ran off with the milkman. "
"pictures of frowning hearts and flowers, which he said depicted an inversion of a happy childhood."
"his wife, a psychotherapist, had read the body language of the other nominees and convinced him it would not be his year"
"People say 'Is the art world accepting ceramics?'. I say no, they're accepting Grayson Perry.""
― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 8 December 2003 11:36 (twenty-two years ago)
I loved the 'well, d'oh!' approach GP took with the Today programme.
Am, he really did have a cruel upbringing and has cut off all ties with his folks for what sound like very good reasons. The frowning hearts and flowers stuff isn't so far away from the bandaged teddy bears that the NSPCC are using as imagery for their campaigns. I reckon Ed finds him charming because on the one hand, he's a Harley-riding Essex lad and on the other, DOLLIES!
GP's wife Philippa is a very eminent psychoanalyst but should have looked at the BL of the judges, maybe. When I had to go to their house I spent ages talking to her; she's had to be a talking head on Big Brother during Sinkah's favourite bits. They live just around the corner from us.
― suzy (suzy), Monday, 8 December 2003 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)