Grayson Perry tapestries exhibition extended
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An exhibition of tapestries created by artist Grayson Perry exploring attitudes towards class has been extended at The Lightbox in Woking.
'The Vanity of Small Differences' is inspired by A Rake's Progress by 18th Century painter William Hogarth.
Gallery staff described the tapestries as "like an archive of early 21st Century life".
The artworks, which tell the story of fictional character Tim Rakewell as he climbs up through the British class system, will be on display until 7 July.
Peter Hall, head of exhibitions at The Lightbox, told BBC Radio Surrey that in the middle tapestries, TV chef Jamie Oliver was depicted "looking down from up high, like the sort of God of the middle classes".
"We've got recycling going on and allotment vegetables, Cath Kidston bags and reusable nappies."
By the final tapestries, Tim has "made his millions", added Mr Hall. "He's got his Ferrari, he's on the front page of Hello Magazine, his second wife is in the background."
'Coming a cropper'
Mr Hall said the work "harks back to what William Hogarth was trying to do... someone starting from lowly beginnings, making lots of money, perhaps squandering it, making some bad moral decisions and coming a cropper at the end".
The tapestries were created in 2012, with elements inspired by Perry's journey through Sunderland, Tunbridge Wells and The Cotswolds as part of a Channel 4 series.
Each tapestry was made of wool, cotton and silk on a mechanical loom, before being coloured in by hand.
The exhibition at The Lightbox has been extended by a month.
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