An interesting project - recording for posterity Britain's artistic reflections during the various lockdowns. Grayson Perry, appointing himself as somewhat of a gatekeeper or FAUCET for British contemporary art, guides us through his own creations as well as those of a select few of the public and celebrity guests.
The style is very relaxed - and the undeniable highlights are watching him, Philippa (psychotherapist, graphic novelist, should-be equally credited) and their cat Kevin mooching about in the sunshine of their shared studio. Creating art, chinwagging or "reacting" to things. It is at turns tranquil, charming and quite enlightening. The celeb guests are all also very well chosen, with surrealist titans like Vic Reeves & Harry Hill - lovely gits like Joe Lycett and Jessica Hynes and underrated evergreens like Liza Tarbuck and Johnny Vegas. Those bits alone would make it an interesting watch, hanging out with likable folk making nice art. Lovely.
Where the format falls apart for me a bit is in the "random" selection of the public (most of those chosen for interview all awkwardly have conveniently stirring-stories-for-telly which makes it all feel rather heavy handed) and the occasional musings of the bafflingly overrated denizens of "modern British art" which takes it from somewhere calming and reflective into something a little arch.
All the series so far have been followed by exhibitions and specials surrounding them. The first was cathartically cancelled at the last minute, and the depiction of the plans failing was really rather moving - the second was affecting for a different reason as I accidentally stumbled in on them filming it. Art meets reality and back again.
The style is very relaxed - and the undeniable highlights are watching him, Philippa (psychotherapist, graphic novelist, should-be equally credited) and their cat Kevin mooching about in the sunshine of their shared studio. Creating art, chinwagging or "reacting" to things. It is at turns tranquil, charming and quite enlightening. The celeb guests are all also very well chosen, with surrealist titans like Vic Reeves & Harry Hill - lovely gits like Joe Lycett and Jessica Hynes and underrated evergreens like Liza Tarbuck and Johnny Vegas. Those bits alone would make it an interesting watch, hanging out with likable folk making nice art. Lovely.
Where the format falls apart for me a bit is in the "random" selection of the public (most of those chosen for interview all awkwardly have conveniently stirring-stories-for-telly which makes it all feel rather heavy handed) and the occasional musings of the bafflingly overrated denizens of "modern British art" which takes it from somewhere calming and reflective into something a little arch.
All the series so far have been followed by exhibitions and specials surrounding them. The first was cathartically cancelled at the last minute, and the depiction of the plans failing was really rather moving - the second was affecting for a different reason as I accidentally stumbled in on them filming it. Art meets reality and back again.