The works here were produced exclusively in conjunction with the Royal Academy of London’s Summer Exhibition of 2018, which Perry curated. The Summer Exhibition constitutes the event of the year in any British artist or gallery’s social calendar. The exhibition takes place every year intending to bring together new contemporary art made by internationally renowned artists that are willing to sell their works to fund and support the RA’s non-profit-making activities, best exemplified by the Academy’s mission of educating the next generation of artists through the Royal Academy Schools. Each year, the curation of the event is allocated to a different, well-renowned artist. In 2018, the RA nominated Perry, who had been a Royal Academician, i.e., a member of the Academy, ever since 2011, attesting to Perry’s well-established position within the art sector. What is more, to add to the prestige of being selected by the RA to be a member and to be asked to curate the Summer Exhibition, 2018 marked the 250th anniversary of the Academy, an anniversary that was celebrated for the entirety of the year through special exhibitions and shows. In addition to asking Perry to curate the numerous rooms of the RA, handpicking over 1300 works which included artists David Hockney, Banksy, or Paula Rego, the Academy commissioned Perry with a series of works to match the theme of the exhibition. The result of Perry’s work, in the RA’s official statement, was the creation of the “biggest, brightest and most colourful Summer Exhibition yet”, in tune with Perry’s own whimsical and colourful world that Perry brings to light in his works: “it is all a celebration of making stuff”, claimed the artist.
The theme of the Exhibition was art and politics, and Perry exhibited his prints in the Sackler Wing of the Galleries, sided by Paula Rego’s fascinating triptychs. With regards to his choice of medium, Perry stated: “The RA has these arcane rules written into its constitution, one of which is that there have to be a certain number of painters, sculptors, architects and printmakers among the Academicians at any one time. Somewhat bizarrely, I was elected as a printmaker - so I thought I'd better make a print!”. The bright print that drew the most attention was Selfie With Political Causes, where the artist, inspired by an Indian miniature, depicts an equestrian woman riding a red and yellow machine. This carriage, Perry explained, is a metaphor for the machine of social justice and equality, which tramples over racism, sexism, poverty and homophobia but produces and unhelpful toxic waste, namely tolerance, free speech and democracy.
Adopting once again Perry’s distinctive humorous wit and sarcasm, the works in this series are not only social and political statements but represent a pivotal moment in the artist’s career, standing as reminders of Perry’s ceaseless originality and creativity.
