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Playing to the Gallery: Helping Contemporary Art in its Struggle to Be Understood Hardcover – 4 Sept. 2014

by Grayson Perry (Author)

4.6 647 ratings

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'It's easy to feel insecure around art and its appreciation, as though we cannot enjoy certain artworks if we don't have a lot of academic and historical knowledge. But if there's one message that I want you to take away it's that anybody can enjoy art and anybody can have a life in the arts - even me! For even I, an Essex transvestite potter, have been let in by the artworld mafia.'

Now Grayson Perry is a fully paid-up member of the art establishment, he wants to show that any of us can appreciate art (after all, there is a reason he's called this book 'Playing to the Gallery' and not 'Sucking up to an Academic Elite'.) Based on his hugely popular Reith Lectures and full of words and pictures, this funny, personal journey through the art world answers the basic questions that might occur to us in an art gallery but seem too embarrassing to ask. Questions such as:

What is 'good' or 'bad' art - and does it even matter? Is there any way to test if something is art, other than a large group of people standing around looking at it? Is art still capable of shocking us or have we seen it all before? Can you be a 'lovable character' and a serious artist - what is a serious artist anyway? And what happens if you place a piece of art in a rubbish dump?

Print length

144 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Particular Books
Publication date

4 Sept. 2014
Dimensions

14.2 x 1.93 x 22.53 cm
ISBN-10

184614857X
ISBN-13

978-1846148576
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Product description

Review

A visual and intellectual delight (Time Out)

Punchy, mischievous ... Hugely entertaining. You could, genuinely, take an aphorism or a quote from every second page ... This is splendid, transgressive stuff and a delight for the many Radio 4 listeners who responded enthusiastically [to Perry's Reith Lectures] ... In writing, he seeks to protect the personal in a deeply caustic art world, but in doing so also writes a love letter to art ... a thing of pleasure: petite, luxuriously printed, a mischievous little hymn to 21st-century inclusivity (Melanie Reid The Times)

This book is full of good jokes, full of cartoons, full of memorable epigrams, but above all full of thought-provoking ideas that make you want to pause on every page and say: "Discuss." I have never read such a stimulating short guide to art. It should be issued as a set text in every school (Lynn Barber Sunday Times)

The book has [a] conversational tone and lively intelligence. Beautifully illustrated, it reveals Perry to be not just an artist but a wordsmith, too... This is writing with the eye of someone who says: 'My job is to notice things that other people don't notice.' It is full of insight, and of telling points... It is acute and funny at the same time. This, I think, is why people love Perry so much. He is really smart. He says the things we wish we had thought of, and asks the questions that we want to ask. What is art? How can we tell if what we are looking at is any good? Is it OK to like certain artists? (Daily Telegraph)

A joy to read (New Statesman)

A polemic for inclusivity... The great thing about Perry's statement of it here is that you are always convinced that he believes it and lives by it (Observer)

With great good humour he debunks distinctions between highbrow and low (Sunday Times, Books of the Year)

It's unputdownable! It's really relevant to anyone who does anything ... A great book ... Grayson is brilliant (Stewart Lee)

An unpretentious aesthetic treatise (Observer, Books of the Year)

Perry's fun and wonderful book is a necessary addition to a world that must continue to ask difficult questions of art (Publishers Weekly)

About the Author

Grayson Perry's first art prize was a large papier-mâché head he awarded to himself as part of a performance art project at college in 1980. Since then he has won many other awards, including the Turner Prize in 2003. He is now one of Britain's most celebrated artists and has had major solo exhibitions all over the world.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Particular Books (4 Sept. 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 184614857X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1846148576
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.2 x 1.93 x 22.53 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 437,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 217 in Ceramics
- 599 in Textile Arts
- 638 in Contemporary Art

Customer reviews:
4.6 647 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

647 global ratings

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Stephen Lee Ellinsworth

Very thought provoking!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 April 2023

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Very good book! Arrived safe and sound

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 March 2022

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I'm a big fan of Grayson so a bit biased! A live recording of the Reith Lectures (2013), Grayson is both entertaining and challenging, breaking down the idea that you have to be an academic to somehow understand 'art' and talks about his own journey and obviously makes reference to his being a transvestite and the wonderful dresses he wears...wearable art. Spent many an hour listening to this audio 'book' and thoroughly enjoyed it! Highly recommend.

One person found this helpful

A light and fun introduction to contemporary art

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 October 2014

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This book is a light and fun introduction to contemporary art, taken (more or less directly) from Mr.Perry's 2013 BBC Reith Lectures. The main differences being the addition of fun irreverant illustrations from the artist which add humour and clarity to the arguments presented, and the merciful absence of Sue Lawley's tedious drivel on Mr. Perry's wardrobe.

The contents are written in an informal conversational style and also from a unique perspective; i.e. a contemporary artist willing to talk about the art world without drifting into verbal obfuscation and multisyllabic silliness.

The book is enjoyable and does what it sets out to do. It is however quite short - and once read is unlikely to be referred back to. The Kindle version is very good value - it both displays and reads well.

25 people found this helpful

a good introduction

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 April 2022

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In Playing to the Gallery, Grayson Perry offers a humorous and accessible introduction to the art world. A must read for anyone who feels like they don’t really understand but would like to appreciate modern art.

A missed opportunity

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 December 2014

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An attempt to answer the question 'What is contemporary Art?' or 'How should we know what is good art?'. To both questions he fails miserably. He fails to understand that art is 'In the eye of the beholder' and to most of us who collect art it doesn't matter a toss what other artists consider good or bad. It the artists who want to try to make a science out of art because by doing so they can have competitions and award each other prizes. A pompous book that diminishes the importance of us the general public who ultimately buy the works and put money in the pockets of the artists. I like you Grayson but you could have done a lot better. Oh by the way there is a great cartoon on page 69 and it is worth buying the book just for that.

2 people found this helpful

Nic C - Liverpool

... and rewards he justly deserves - this is a great book which should be read by every art student ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 March 2015

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I read this in three days - Grayson is a creative genius who is still in touch with the real world - he served his time as a proper (poor) artist and is now receiving the acclaim and rewards he justly deserves - this is a great book which should be read by every art student and especially curators who are often too self important to consider the views of the people - its not a case of dumbing down its just a case of communicating with the public in a friendly and understandable way. Grayson achieves this in this book and its something I will go back to again and again to refresh my enthusiasm for art and what is should stand for.

8 people found this helpful

More questions than answers

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 January 2017

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A book club choice I was looking forward to reading - a look at some fundamental questions about art such as what counts as art, what is quality. The author's answers are frequently dripping in cynicism (which is often amusing) but ultimately dances around providing answers. Quality is in the eye of the beholder or maybe not. An artist is anyone who says he is an artist, or maybe not. He often refers to quality as a differentiator in art and that quality is a consequence of a practiced and trained ability (which resonates with me) but he doesn't then take a critical look at how art today which is not a product of a technically skilled person can be considered quality.

A book that doesn't deliver on its promise. Frustrating.

One person found this helpful

Thoroughly enjoyable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 April 2016

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This is the text accompaniment to the series of Reith Lectures Perry did a few years ago on what Modern Art is and how we, as ordinary people, can navigate our way through it. It is not meant to be comprehensive, and really sums up Perry's own thoughts and feelings about it. It is, as are all Perry's works, done with charm, humour and his own idiosyncratic take on things. It consists of three, short essays and accompanying sketches by Perry that give much needed prick to the inflated pomposity of the art world.

Arrived promptly

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2022

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Great quality & arrived quickly. Was a gift & the recipient was very pleased!

Amusing, entertaining, clever guide to modern art.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2015

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I have always loved Greyson Perry's work, and my visit to his tapestries in Liverpool's Walker gallery is a highlight I will never forget. This book is his authentic voice, so it is approachable, likeable and totally lacking in arrogance. He makes me laugh, as he teaches me. It is irreverent, there is not a trace of pomposity and unlike so many writers about art, he is not convinced of his own superiority. Which is odd as he is both erudite and talented!

I wish there was another book, I devoured this is a couple of days!

6 people found this helpful

Katie Eccleston

Thoughtful and witty

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 January 2020

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An enjoyable easy read with witty illustrations along the way. The reader is encouraged to think about, go and see and most importantly, make art. The undying question 'what is art?' is answered and not answered at the same time with Grayson Perry's back and forth pondering of ideas. Will definitely be quoting some of his ideas in future discussions.

One person found this helpful

I am an amateur artist and I love it.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 January 2021

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I love it, it helps me to understand the art world and myself as an artist or art maker. I recommend to read it if you are a beginner artist

This is such a great read and funny

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 July 2018

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This is such a great read and funny... serious but with tongue in cheek humour. I agree with all of Perry's views and as an older artist myself, I have seen in the artworld, for many years, the sad situation which I have called, 'The Emporer's New Clothes' .... If enough critics> curators and artists say it is art then maybe they can fool the people into thinking it IS art!

6 people found this helpful

Playing to my Gallery

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 March 2015

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I wanted to read this after listening, all ears, to Grayson Perry's Reith lectures. What genius to ask him to give the lectures! Grayson does not teach; he imbues with confidence, which is better. Make up your own mind about art - preferably all alone and in a relaxed state of mind! It's your choice! Don't let them others interfere! The book is also colourfully and delightfully illustrated to break up the erudite writing. A great little book by a man of double personality who got there on his own.

6 people found this helpful

Mrs. C. K. Cardew-smith

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 August 2020

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I love GP, interesting book

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