Crafts Council Collections Online
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2016.17
The Discombobulated Brexiteer (2016.17)
Catalogue Record
Collection
Maker
John Grayson
Title
The Discombobulated Brexiteer
Date
2016
Description
An automata made using vitreous enamel and a combination of analogue and digital parts.
Commissioned for the Crafts Council Touring Exhibition, A Curious Turn: moving, mechanical sculpture, this object questions the trustworthiness of people in public office whose judgement can be influenced. The objectillustrates a contemporary approach to using moving sculpture to comment satirically on society. It also shows the maker’s recent change of inspirations for his work, from 19th century tinplate toys and the folk-toy tradition to the Georgian enamelling process and the example of traditional refined 18th century automata. This work is also inspired by the maker’s residency at Kings College London within the faculty of Natural and Mathematical Science under the Crafts Council Parallel Practices programme.
Commissioned for the Crafts Council Touring Exhibition, A Curious Turn: moving, mechanical sculpture, this object questions the trustworthiness of people in public office whose judgement can be influenced. The objectillustrates a contemporary approach to using moving sculpture to comment satirically on society. It also shows the maker’s recent change of inspirations for his work, from 19th century tinplate toys and the folk-toy tradition to the Georgian enamelling process and the example of traditional refined 18th century automata. This work is also inspired by the maker’s residency at Kings College London within the faculty of Natural and Mathematical Science under the Crafts Council Parallel Practices programme.
Object number
2016.17
Category
Credit
Acquisition of 'The Discombobulated Brexiteer’ (2016) funded by a donation from Nicholas and Judith Goodison. Commissioned by the Crafts Council.
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The Discombobulated Brexiteer, John Grayson, 2016. Crafts Council Collection, 2016.17. Photo: Iona Wolff.
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The Discombobulated Brexiteer, John Grayson, 2016, displayed as part of the Crafts Council touring exhibition A Curious Turn: moving, mechanical sculpture, at Platform Gallery, Habitat, London 2016. Photo: Iona Wolff.
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John Grayson explaning his work 'The Discombobulated Brexiteer' in the Crafts Council touring exhibition A Curious Turn: moving, mechanical sculpture private view at Platform Gallery, Habitat, London in 2016. Photo: Iona Wolff.
Related documents
The Discombobulated Brexiteer, John Grayson, 2016, Crafts Council Collection: 2016.17. Film by Video in Common.
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Maker's statement
While this piece charted the political events in the UK at the time, it also charted my development as a maker. Through the Parallel Practice programme funded by Kings College and the Crafts Council, I was able to resurrect 18th century vitreous enamel making techniques combined with digital technology. This was the first piece known to apply both techniques together and I am supremely proud to have been commissioned by the Crafts Council to do it. As a maker and an educator, there is real value in the piece today for these reasons.
