Alan Measles - God in the Time of Covid 19
Grayson Perry, 2020
Made as part of his Channel 4 series Grayson’s Art Club, which was broadcast during the first lockdown in spring 2020, Grayson Perry's Alan Measles – God in the time of Covid-19 is a glazed ceramic work in the form of a medicine jar, decorated with Perry's 'fears and imaginings' about the experience of living through the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In one prominent scene, the artist's teddy bear, Alan Measles, is shown weeping as Perry's alter ego, Claire, is pushed on a hospital trolley by a worker dressed in PPE. Observing this scene is Professor Chris Whitty, the UK's chief medical officer (pictured top).
Alan Measles – God in the time of Covid-19 joins the collection at the Science Museum, London, and is due to go on display in the Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries. It has been collected alongside other Covid-related artefacts such as the first vaccines developed and public-health signage.
This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Alan Measles - God in the Time of Covid 19, 2020
Date supported
2021
Medium and material
Other
Dimensions
52 x 27 cm
Total cost
80000
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