On first encountering the Turner Prize winning artist and potter Grayson Perry, myself, a college student of around sixteen years of age, the first thing that struck me was his eccentricity and seemingly bizarre personality. Not least because of his tendency to make appearances in public dressed as ‘Clare’, the cross-dressing alter-ego he regularly adopts. So, five years on, the opportunity arose for me to witness the aforementioned in a live conversation with Lars Tharp; a Ceramics historian and broadcaster from the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. On first impressions it appeared as if what had been planned here was a meeting of two very different minds, a ground for debate and conflicting ideas. Perry, I assumed, was to bring the more broad-minded and fantastical views; Tharp, a more traditionalist and conservative presence. Shortly after taking my seat in the audience, Tharp, you could say, confirmed this to the audience... in very few words at least. Then came Perry’s turn to make an entrance; I won’t pretend I didn’t expect him to come out donning one of his trademark ‘fit for a ball’ dresses and handbags, but to my surprise this was not the case. The bright pink V-neck would have to suffice.So, what did I learn? I learnt within minutes that Lars Tharp isn’t one for confrontation. With the smallest display of disagreement from Perry came my realisation that this wasn’t going to be the head-on clash I’d previously hoped for. But all was not lost, the rest of the hour-long period we were treated to some deliciously funny quips from Perry. His comparisons between the work process and ‘tossing one off’, or even ‘shooting your load’, were particularly poignant, but not quite as amusing as his thoughts on the Arts Council and their members. Just as Perry labelled the women of the Council as the dangly-earring wearing type, I noticed sitting directly in front of me these very beings. In fact it became apparent that all around the lecture hall this was the case. That’s when I suspected that the majority of the audience weren’t here to see Grayson Perry at all; I suspected they were here to see Lars Tharp. If this was the case then I expect some were disappointed that the conversation became what I’d describe as an interview, conducted by Tharp.
With that settled we gathered a little insight into Perry’s creative world. He ventured into his beginnings as an artist, also on how his interest in pottery began, which seemed to be because no-one else held one at the time. He also expressed his opinion on original ideas in art, suggesting he didn’t much care for them. Strange because, by my reckoning, it was his original take on pottery as a canvas and narrative tool that went some way in gaining him the Turner Prize back in 2003. It seems that the ‘punk’ and rebellious attitude of his youth, one Perry had described to us as having, still resonated somewhat in his current life. Or maybe just that he wished to be different from everyone else, to do and say things that no-one else wanted to see or hear. Contradiction, to me it seemed, took a recurring presence in most of what he said. Despite this, I have to say I find his work intriguing and brilliantly bizarre. His use of visual metaphor and regressions on childhood are particularly striking. Admirable are his methods, processes and the fact his work relies quite heavily on an emotional and physical investment.
The conversation came to an end with Tharp unable to refrain any longer from mentioning his affiliation with The Antiques Roadshow, or ‘the Roadshow’ as he’d so proudly put it. I must commend him though, he’d tried his best. Not to fault his interviewing skills, he did a fine job, even if he had failed to point out Perry’s contradictory manner. Besides, that had proved unnecessary of Tharp when Perry had pointed it out by his own admission not far from the end. The audience gave quite a rapturous applause and left happily, as did I. The experience was entertaining and insightful for the most part - an often rare combination.
