After seeing a post on The Dress Doctor regarding Grayson Perry’s exhibition The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsmen at the British Museum, I watched the first video below to learn more about it.
Then, through the wonderful world of the internet, I found the video below, from the V&A with Grayson Perry talking about craft, art and the digital world. I was struck by two quotes in the video below, “Our relationship to making things has changed.” This surprised me because, well, the reason we aren’t making bread anymore (something he notes) isn’t because we’ve changed, it’s changed because our options have changed. For the same reason people stopped handmaking clothes when the Industrial Revolution came around, technology brought us inventions that save us time and the “hassle” of making them ourselves.
But, then later he adds, “One of the great empowering things about learning craft is… it’s almost like a manifestation, a physical manifestation of, “I can change the world.”” A few times he seems quite damning on craft, while others quite complimentary.
Maybe he’s just like everyone else? Not so sure on the proper definition? And where “craft” begins and “art” ends?
Betsy, thank you so much for sharing this! I love the interview, and the way Perry talks about craft being created with the participation of the material. Perhaps even with digital creations. Very thought provoking.
Thanks, Judith, I’m glad you liked it, too! I actually had to watch the longer one a few times to let in all sink in!