Dame Tracey Emin's Major Exhibition 'A Second Life' Set to Open at Tate Modern
Dame Tracey Emin has announced that her upcoming exhibition at Tate Modern, titled 'A Second Life,' will serve as a significant 'benchmark' in her artistic career. The show, which launches this Friday, represents her largest survey exhibition to date, offering a comprehensive look back at her 40-year journey as an artist.
Exhibition Details and Scope
A spokesman for the London art gallery revealed that the exhibition brings together more than 100 works, encompassing a diverse range of mediums including painting, video, textile, neon, sculpture, and installation. The collection aims to explore how Dame Tracey has consistently used the female body as a powerful tool to delve into themes of passion, pain, and healing.
The exhibition features pieces from her first solo show at White Cube in 1993, alongside two of her most iconic installations: 'Exorcism Of The Last Painting I Ever Made' (1996) and 'My Bed' (1998), the latter of which earned a Turner Prize nomination. Notably, her quilt 'The Last of the Gold 2002,' which includes an 'A to Z of abortion' offering advice to women, will be displayed publicly for the first time.
Personal and Artistic Evolution
In a deeply personal addition, the exhibition includes Dame Tracey's recent bronze sculpture 'Ascension 2024,' which reflects her new relationship with her body following major surgery for bladder cancer. This piece is accompanied by new photographs that show the stoma she now lives with, highlighting her ongoing journey of resilience and adaptation.
Dame Tracey, who was honored with a damehood in 2024 for her contributions to art, expressed her excitement about the exhibition. She stated, 'I'm very excited about having a show at Tate Modern. For me, it's one of the greatest international contemporary art museums in the world and it's here in London. I feel this show, titled A Second Life, will be a benchmark for me. A moment in my life when I look back and go forward. A true celebration of living.'
Exhibition Schedule and Impact
Tracey Emin: A Second Life is scheduled to run from its launch this Friday until August 31. This exhibition not only celebrates her prolific career but also marks a pivotal moment of reflection and forward momentum, as she continues to push boundaries in the contemporary art world.
