Dame Tracey Emin has declared her forthcoming exhibition at Tate Modern will serve as a definitive "benchmark" for her extensive artistic career. The showcase, titled Tracey Emin: A Second Life, is set to launch at the renowned London gallery, representing the most comprehensive survey of her work ever assembled.
A Retrospective of Four Decades
Spanning an impressive forty-year career, this exhibition meticulously traces Dame Tracey's evolution as a pioneering contemporary artist. It brings together more than one hundred diverse works, encompassing painting, video, textile art, neon installations, sculpture, and large-scale installations. A spokesperson for Tate Modern emphasised that the collection powerfully examines how Emin has consistently utilised the female body as a potent instrument to delve into themes of passion, profound pain, and personal healing.
Iconic Installations and Historic Pieces
The exhibition features seminal works from throughout her journey, including pieces from her very first solo exhibition at White Cube in 1993. Among the highlights are two of her most internationally recognised installations: Exorcism Of The Last Painting I Ever Made from 1996 and the iconic My Bed from 1998, the latter having been nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize.
Never-Before-Seen Works and Personal Explorations
Audiences will encounter several pieces being shown publicly for the first time. This includes her quilt titled The Last of the Gold 2002, which is embroidered with what she describes as an "A to Z of abortion," intended as a resource for women navigating similar circumstances.
The exhibition also courageously presents her recent artistic exploration of her own body following major surgery for bladder cancer. Her 2024 bronze sculpture, Ascension, is accompanied by new photographic works that openly depict the stoma she now lives with, marking a raw and intimate chapter in her practice.
A Celebration and a New Beginning
Dame Tracey Emin, who was honoured with a damehood in 2024 for her exceptional services to art, expressed profound excitement about the Tate Modern presentation. "I'm very excited about having a show at Tate Modern," she stated. "For me, it's one of the greatest international contemporary art museums in the world and it's here in London."
She elaborated on the significance of the exhibition's title, A Second Life, describing it as a pivotal moment. "I feel this show will be a benchmark for me. A moment in my life when I look back and go forward. A true celebration of living," Emin reflected, underscoring the retrospective and forward-looking nature of the collection.
Tracey Emin: A Second Life is scheduled to open at Tate Modern on Friday and will continue its run until August 31st, offering visitors an extensive and deeply personal journey through the artist's groundbreaking career.
