The Curious Art of Connection: Grayson Perry’s Road to Understanding

It’s the summer of 2020, and Grayson Perry rides up to a biker bar on a flamboyant motorcycle with psychedelic swirls, bright red handlebars, and purple grips, wearing an equally eye-catching outfit including a pink leather jacket emboldened with an orange peace symbol and red fire flames – he is even sporting red, heart-shaped sunglasses.

How do I introduce you to Grayson if you don’t know him already?

• Turner Prize Winner (one of the highest honors in the British art world)
• Documentarian on societal norms
• “Gender rigid” (his own description of himself)
• Colorful cross-dresser (his alter ego is Claire)
• Award-winning ceramicist
• Husband of over 30 years to wife Philippa Perry
• Satirist
• Printmaker and painter

Sitting in the midwestern bar, Grayson has removed the leather jacket, and he’s wearing a simple blue-gray t-shirt – albeit with bright yellow suspenders.

The subject turns to education and one of the younger, politically conservative bikers says, “It's like our education system has been hijacked, and it's basically indoctrination all the way through now.”

Another biker picks up the thought and says, “And, they are even taking kids like, like boys six years old and dressing them in girls’ clothes in school, and they're trying to change kids - the way they look at things, and they're turning them like almost [into] being a homosexual or whatever.” 

The documentary shifts scenes to outside the bar where Grayson says, “Oof. Yeah, Grayson. How the (explicative) did you end up here?” as he laughs at himself and the situation. Clearly, these bikers have never seen Grayson dressed as his alter-ego Claire¹.

What impresses me with the interactions Grayson initiates in this 2020, pre-U.S.-election documentary Grayson Perry's Big American Road Trip is his ability to ask questions out of genuine curiosity. He really wants to understand why these people are so dedicated to Trump that they tear up talking about him. He is equally curious about the wealthy residents of Martha’s Vineyard being seemingly unable to question their places of privilege.

It’s that curiosity we explore today.

I first encountered Grayson’s documentary work when I came across one of the parts of the 2012 series All in the Best Possible Taste in which he explores British tastes, depicting his experiences in the communities of people of various classes with elaborate tapestries which are later unveiled publicly. He is equally inquisitive in this setting, never showing a hint of judgement during his interactions. The questions posed aim at exploring, understanding, and delving deeply into cultural norms.

We’ll leave exploring his insights about community and social value for another blog day; today is about being curious in our connections.

While Grayson asks outstanding questions, what draws people in to answer with honesty and vulnerability is his manner; he is deeply engaged and sincerely interested in the responses. He listens. He considers. He reflects.

Through both his art and public personas, Grayson uses humor and satire to engage with complex social issues, especially around culture and class.

Watch some of his documentaries, even if just the clips on YouTube, and interviews (provided below) to experience his way of engaging others. Consider what you can learn from these to apply to your own connections with others.