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Tracey Emin's most powerful exhibition yet

katyhessel.substack.com

Tracey Emin's most powerful exhibition yet

Death, Decay, Hope, Renewal: My thoughts on Tracey Emin's recent exhibition

Katy Hessel
Jan 27
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Share this post

Tracey Emin's most powerful exhibition yet

katyhessel.substack.com

Dear Readers, Last summer I travelled to Scotland to see Tracey Emin’s exhibition I Lay Here For You at Jupiter Artland. It was Emin’s second major exhibition since her life after cancer, and, as you can imagine, it was deeply moving. Compiled of a large bronze sculpture looming in the forest, small paintings centred around the motif of the ‘bed’, and sculptures that evoked womb-like forms, the exhibition was about surrendering: to life, loss, cancer, and love.

I, too, was going through a transitional time in my life, and never before had an exhibition affected me so much. It’s amazing how work that has nothing to do with you can speak to you so clearly. So I recorded my thoughts, spoke to Emin, and wrote this essay in response. I hope you enjoy it, and find something in it for yourself too!

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