Tonight:
3°c
Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry is to make a pilgrimage with his childhood teddy bear Alan Measles on this custom-made motorbike built to his own design.
The trial run begins today with a drive on the bike, complete with shrine to the bear, to the Port Eliot Literary Festival in Cornwall.
The main event will be a tour of Germany in September. “When I was a child, Alan Measles's enemy was the Germans but I thought it was about time we laid that metaphor to rest,” the 50-year-old artist said.
He has been on pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela and Lourdes, “but I thought it would be interesting to do it in reverse by taking the shrine to the people.”
Alan, his childhood friend and father figure, was the obvious candidate for cult status, having appeared in his art as God. The bike was made by expert Battistini but every detail, including teddy-shaped wing nuts, is by Perry.
Progress can be followed at alanmeasles.posterous.com
Reader views (2)
Looks like something from "Lazy Town"
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford, 23/07/2010 16:48
Report abuse
Who, who and who?
- Matt, London, 23/07/2010 15:43
Report abuse
