The renowned British contemporary artist and broadcaster returns to the gallery for a breakfast-brightening collaboration
Grayson Perry is known for observing and dissecting British life
The National Portrait Gallery has one of the most expertly curated museum shops in London. And following the gallery’s successful Tracey Emin homeware collection, “Untitled”, the cultural landmark will be selling exclusive homeware collection “A Map of Days”, by contemporary British artist Grayson Perry. You can pre-order it right now, otherwise it will be available to purchase in the gallery’s shop next month.
The collection consists of four bone-china plates (£65 each) with varying design details from Perry’s A Map of Days self-portrait, as well as a bone-china mug (£30). On the softer side, there’s also a napkin (£18), tea towel (£20), table runner (£85) and apron (£40). Each piece comes expertly gift-wrapped, making it the perfect pressie for the Grayson Perry fanatic in your life – or for someone who was sad about missing out on the sought-after silk scarf featuring the same design, which was sold alongside Perry’s Who Are You? exhibition (2014-2015).
Grayson Perry x NPG 'A Map of Days' Plate, 'Public Relations'
For those unfamiliar with Perry’s 2013 artwork, A Map of Days is an elaborate etching that explores a typical day in modern British life. The work is technically a self-portrait: it takes form as a city showing moments relating to Perry’s own life experiences and emotions, such as a drawing of his wife as well a small man in the centre kicking a tin can to represent the artist’s “sense of self”. It doesn’t feature Perry’s face, but it is a symbolic reflection on the passing of time and how one lives.
What makes the collection so appealing is that Perry’s exploration of ordinary life slots wonderfully into everyday objects. Or, as Ed Simpson, buying and product development manager at the National Portrait Gallery, puts it: ‘A Map of Days is all about everyday routines and how our identities are shaped by the ordinary – so it’s lovely to see it become part of daily life at home.’
Your morning tea and toast just got more whimsical. Not to mention your next dinner party.
Grayson Perry’s collaboration, A Map of Days, is available for pre-order online now, and in-store from 1 June; npgshop.org.uk
