Anna Couani #36 the tableaux

we walked through
the Grayson Perry show
at the MCA
marvelled at his massive tapestries
and ceramic urns
at the way he is able to
join several tableaux
in the same overall image
create narratives
when the viewer connects them
the obligatory erect phalluses
the cross-dressing
various gestures towards affect

we walked outside the gallery
towards the huge wall
of the cruise ship
docked at the overseas terminal
and suddenly tableaux abound

the tourists in groups with selfie sticks
the ferries ploughing back and forth
the ant-like people on the other side
of the quay
the buskers
the TV crew with news reader
standing in front of a mini auto cue
talking about recent food poisoning
on the cruise ship

so different from a school teacher
where we talk to our groups
from memory
or from notes
sometimes Powerpoints
or Prezi’s

but it was noticeable that
the colour was so much more hazy
whited out
more than the Perry works
possibly because of the imminent rain
and so bland

lacking affect