'The Vanity of Small Differences' - Grayson Perry

‘The Vanity of Small Differences’ is currently on display at the Beaney in Canterbury. This series of colourful tapestries by Grayson Perry is concerned with issues including class, culture, possessions and the history and development of art.

Influenced by the imagery of early Renaissance art, and based on the fictional ‘Rake’s Progress’ by artist William Hogarth, ‘The Vanity of Small Differences’ tells the story of Tim Rakewell through a series of 6 vibrant tapestries which document the rise and eventual downfall of Tim.

Although Tim Rakewell only exists through the imagination of Perry – like all good narratives it has strong links to reality. Perry conducted his research for the artwork whilst travelling around the country to film his documentary series ‘All in the Best Possible Taste’. The people he met and the interviews he conducted were central to the development of this exhibition.

In my humble opinion, no other British artist currently does 'cultural-commentary' better than Grayson Perry. He has an uncanny ability to recognise which elements of the observable and the hidden are the most valuable ones to depict through art. These are not just the aspects that work aesthetically, but also that psychologically draw us in deeper and beyond the surface. Perry’s work is always jam-packed with ‘things’. There are so many ideas, texts, objects and identities encapsulated within his artworks that the eye never quite knows where to settle. However, there is a resolution to his work that stops it from becoming jumbled and allows the message to emerge.

Within this exhibition, the life of Tim Rakewell has relevance to the viewer in a variety of ways. The tapestries are filled with everyday, recognisable objects, and the ‘rags to riches’ tale is undeniably a part of our collective consciousness. Initially the protagonist Tim tries to escape his working class roots through education, technology and the company he keeps. He gains great success and becomes a millionaire with true influence. Eventually however, in this contemporary morality tale, the tragedy begins to develop.

The final tapestry ‘Lamentation’ depicts the aftermath of a terrible car accident. Tim's blood splattered, new, young wife has survived; but his expensive car is destroyed, his beloved dog is dead and so is Tim Rakewell who is sprawled across the road, his lifeless hand reaching out for that most ubiquitous of all consumer objects – the Smartphone. Along the bottom of the tapestry is a line of text which quotes the words of the nurse who attended to Tim at the scene of the tragedy: “All that money and he dies in the gutter.”

This is a thought provoking and powerful exhibition in which the craftsmanship and storytelling abilities of Grayson Perry are apparent. Despite the bleak conclusion to Tim Rakewell’s life journey, this exhibition is imbued with light too. It is humorous, and the tapestries are filled with bold imagery and strong, exquisite colours.

The Vanity of Small Differences is at the Beaney in Canterbury till the 4th December 2016