At first glance, Grayson Perry's work is shocking and well executed. During his interview, Perry explains how he sees himself as an artist; not as a ceramicist, not as a craftsman, but as someone who goes beyond craft with his content. I see him as all of these things, playing several roles. I agree when he says that a ceramicist is one who experiments with the materials. Because he uses traditional techniques, he is more interested behind the thought in his imagery instead of the canvas/vase. He even explains that his next show doesn't even involve ceramic pieces- showing his flexibility and his constant questioning of the world around him. I see it as a great symbiotic relationship between craftsmanship/execution and content. The exciting element is incorporated in using the vases because classic vases don't have this grotesque, twisted scenery. The vessels he creates must be good quality, which makes people confuse his work with crafting. However I think of crafting as producing the same work repeatedly, that can be learned, and the work is based on a single original idea. His work should be considered art because Perry bears his life experiences onto this craft, pushing it past that boundary between the craft world and art world. His version of storytelling is achieved through the various tools and techniques he adapts for his compositions.
I found it interesting to see the parallels to therapy and art, which I see reflecting in his works. Perry makes many psychological and controversial statements that have come about in the truth-seeking aspects of therapy. He says that in earlier work, his content was all about his personal issues; but presently, it has evolved more so into awareness. His work reflects his observations of peoples lack of awareness and lack of true sight. He mocks people for being a crowd instead of being their own individual self.
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