Christmas 1978 (self-portrait)

GRAYSON PERRY, R.A. (b. 1960) Christmas 1978 (self-portrait) inscribed 'FIG A.' (upper left); inscribed 'Why zank you Turrrnipper Tom' (upper right); inscribed 'FOR DETAILS SEE OVERLEAF' (lower centre); signed and inscribed 'Grayson Perry/INSTRUCTIONS FOR/OPENING/READ/BEFORE PROCEEDING/WITH UNTRAINED/GRATITUDE./INSTRUCTIONS/1. MOVE TOWARDS CHRISTMAS TREE IN COOL MANNER/SO AS NOT TO GIVE IMPRESSION OF BEING/EXCITED AS AN EXCITED PERSON./2. LOOK AROUND ALL THE OTHER PRESENTS AS IF/CHOOSING ONE./3. TEAR PAPER WHEN OPENING SO PEOPLE DON'T/THINK YOU ARE SAVING IT TO LINE CUPBOARDS/WITH./4. ON IDENTIFYING GIFT EXCLAIM "JUST WHAT I'VE/ALWAYS WANTED!"/5. HOLDING BACK PHRASES SUCH AS 'I'VE ALREADY/GOT ONE" OR "I DON'T WEAR ANYTHING IN BED"/THANK DONOR IN KIND OR BY WEIGHT IN FLESH./6. USE GIFT ONLY WHEN DONOR IS OBSERVING/ENTHUSIASTIC APPRAISAL OF MERITS.' (on the reverse) ball point pen and wax crayon 8 ¼ x 5 ¾ in. (20.9 x 14.6 cm.) Executed in November 1978.