Tracey Emin

Tracey Emin

 

Emin's art takes many different forms of expression including needlework and sculpture, drawing, video and installation, photography and painting.

 

I find one of Emins early works, My Major Retrospective, absolutely inspiring and is something I feel must have taken a lot of thought to whether it should be displayed. It was just so personal! It is almost autobiographical- consisting of personal photographs, and photos of her (destroyed) early paintings, as well as items which most artists would not consider showing in public, such as a packet of cigarettes her uncle was holding when he was decapitated in a car crash. This willingness to show details of what would generally be thought of as her private life has become one of Emin's trademarks.

 

 

In 1999, Emin was shortlisted for the Turner Prize herself and exhibited My Bed at the Tate Gallery. There was considerable media furore regarding the apparently trivial and possibly unhygienic elements of the installation, such as yellow stains on the bedsheets, condoms, empty cigarette packets and a pair of knickers with menstrual stains. The bed was presented as it had been when she had stayed in it for several days feeling suicidal because of relationship difficulties.

 

 

In my opinion I feel like this installation is a bit too over rated... yes I realise its conceptuality is about Emins way of expressing her difficulties but why such unhygienic objects?... I don't know just my opinion?