TAPESTRIES created by one of the UK’s favourite artists and chronicling the life story of a fictional Sunderland man are set to return to the city later this year.
Turner Prize winning Grayson Perry’s hugely popular series of six tapestries, The Vanity of Small Differences, will be once again exhibited in the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens from Saturday, April 9.
The tapestries were created while Perry was filming the 2012 Channel 4 documentary All in the Best Possible Taste. They are inspired by 18th century writer William Hogarth's moral tale A Rake’s Progress, which follows Tom Rakewell; a young man who inherits a fortune, but fritters it away on sex, drinking and gambling.
Read more: 3,500 trees being planted in Darlington to mark Queen's platinum jubilee
The collection depicts many of the characters and places Perry encountered while travelling through Sunderland, Tunbridge Wells, and the Cotswolds for the series.
Two of the tapestries, Agony in the Car Park and Adoration of the Cage Fighters, are based on his experiences on Wearside. Each of the six tapestries measure 6ft 6ins (2m) by 13ft (4m) and were woven in Flanders on a computer-controlled loom to designs created by the artist.
The free exhibition is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Jo Cunningham, Exhibitions, Collections and Archives Manager at Sunderland Museum, said: “When the Vanity of Small Differences exhibition was launched here in Sunderland nearly ten years ago it was hugely successful – attracting more than 123,000 visitors, the most we’ve ever had to an exhibition - so we’re thrilled and delighted to have the tapestries back again.
“He seems to have an affinity for the city, and in turn, Wearsiders love his work.”
The exhibition will also include the monumental tapestry Comfort Blanket, described by Perry as 'A portrait of Britain to wrap yourself up in, a giant banknote; things we love, and love to hate.’
Read more: The 'top-secret' RAF Menwith Hill on our doorstep in North Yorkshire
The tapestry was based on a friend whose family had walked out of Hungary fleeing the Soviet invasion in 1956. Her mother referred to Britain as her ‘security blanket’. As their plane came in to land in the UK, the tannoy relayed a message from the Queen saying ‘Welcome to Britain, you are now in a safe country.’
This will be the first time Comfort Blanket has been shown in the region, and the tapestry is on loan from the Victoria Miro Gallery in London.
The Vanity of Small Differences is part of The Arts Council Collection, the most widely circulated national loan collection of modern and contemporary British art. The exhibition is the last to be presented at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens as part of Sunderland Culture’s partnership in the prestigious Arts Council Collection National Partners Programme.
The exhibition will close on Sunday, June 5 and is expected to be very popular, so booking your free tickets (from March 7) is essential, according to the museum.
People can get their tickets here.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel