Floating World

At first sight, this vase may not look at all unusual. The form is familiar, the decoration is colorful and the surface shines beautifully in the light: an adornment for any living room. If you go closer, however, you might recoil: Floating World is covered with wrecked cars and bleeding victims of road accidents. The vase also features statistical symbols, which take the form of human figures, coffins and phalluses. A large, life-size penis in gold appears on the belly of the vase. The phallus motif represents masculinity; for Grayson Perry it is the symbol of macho behavior, aggression, violence and power. It is precisely this opposition between shocking content and respectable form that makes Perry’s pots so controversial. The title of the work also reflects its twisted message. The term “Floating World” comes from the famous Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcuts, with their focus on the pleasures of going out, visits to theaters and restaurants, the company of geishas and other urban enjoyments.