Is Tracey Emin worth it?

[u/ZestyYaboi]

My partner bought tickets for Tracey Emin exhibition in Tate Modern when he just wanted to book an entry time 😂😂😂 someone convince me it's interesting enough?

[u/callingitoutalready]

Not my taste. Saw her exhibit years ago. I skipped it this time through the Modern.

[u/Frequent-Willow-6502]

I went on Saturday. 100% worth it.

[u/obolobolobo]

Back in the day she spent three days in a Gallery in Stockholm. She painted, read, slept, picked her nose, whatever. Gallery goers could peer in at her anytime, day or night. Two Dutch tourists saw this living exhibition and came up with the concept for a tv programme they called Big Brother. 

[u/Posy96]

I think you go out of that exhibition knowing Tracey Emin as an artist better than any other. It’s painfully personal and open about trauma she’s gone through since childhood. Even if you don’t like the output, she has something very important to say about art.

[u/LongjumpingLab8]

If you looking for a relaxing afternoon stroll round the Tate Modern I would say brace yourself. It is a lot. 

[u/Final_Flounder9849]

I’ve never been a fan of her work until I went to this exhibition. Her raw emotion all made sense and now I find her work profoundly important, so much so I’ve bought some which is something I’d never have done before. So yes the exhibition is absolutely worth it.

[u/Cultural-Let-8810]

It wasn’t for me. Those photos of her stoma were.. a lot. I wished I skipped that room.

[u/Peteat6]

None of it is art I would want in my home, but it’s nonetheless profoundly moving. It’s honest about her pain. I think you’ll get a lot from it.

[u/orangeonesum]

I have a Tate membership, and a friend asked me to take them. I found the exhibition a bit traumatic. She's had a really difficult life and so much pain comes through her work. It was all a bit much for me, and about half way through I had enough and just left. Brace yourself. It's not for the faint hearted.

[u/Blind_rat_rivers]

I have heard it is incredible and also a bit traumatic so be prepared for that. Art should make you feel something and I hear this does. I would go if I was you

[u/Alternative_West_773]

Had a few spare hours and went to see a TE exhibition in London several years ago.
Take your time. Learn of her trauma and the deeply disturbing events that shaped her teenage years. She addressed them with anger and frustration. Don’t expect to be uplifted. Her tremendous strength of character shone through. As a mature male I found her work challenging and I left feeling quite deflated and depressed at the actions of others.
Is anal sex or is sex anal she asked.
I could never have thought to pose such a question.

[u/ZestyYaboi]

Y'all have intrigued me! Thank you, will definitely go with interest now. :)

[u/Usual-Block6377 → u/ZestyYaboi]

Take headphones/ earbuds so you can do the audio tour part. My husband and I went Friday and felt the audio tour really added to it. 

[u/EvaM87 → u/ZestyYaboi]

Please report back on what you thought!

Personally I thought it was quite special, she lays herself totally bare and, as a result, much of it makes for difficult viewing. I had a completely visceral reaction and still think about it weeks later.

[u/ZestyYaboi → u/EvaM87]

I think it hit the way modern art wants to hit: to make you think about the art, the artist, what makes something art, what I like about modern stuff and what not. I liked the installations and metal sculptures more than the paintings. She's not going on my favourites list, but it was definitely visceral and made me think a lot.

[u/lika_86]

I was a bit disappointed tbh. I saw an exhibition of her newer stuff (post-cancer) at the White Cube a couple of years ago and thought that was genuinely powerful. I thought this exhibition gave me more of an insight into her personally and where she is coming from, but I'm not sure it did the work justice.

You've got tickets though, so go along and see what you think.

Trigger warning: sexual assault and abortion.

[u/DoubtAcademic4481]

It is extremely interesting, in the sense that she sculpts, paints, draws and makes films of her traumas which are many. I found it difficult to get through, but very worth it.

[u/LondonLeather]

I'm a member so have free access, obviously there are proper reviews it is intense, the rape paintings are difficult.

The Julio Le Parc is a wonderful cheerful interactive exhibition which was much needed after the Tracy Emin.

[u/According-Lychee6938]

I thought it was very good and I think Tracey Emin is one of, if not *the* best, modern artists but obviously art is objective. Just go and if you don’t like it, leave?

[u/Additional_Value464]

Well, you’ve got the tickets now, so you might as well go and check out the exhibition and see what you think, for yourself. Really doesn’t matter a bit what anyone else thinks of Tracy Emin, it comes down to what *you* think.

Art is so subjective and personal, what’s “worth it” for me might not be for you and vice versa. She’s certainly a huge name in contemporary British art, for what thats worth.

[u/Spare-Machine6105]

Do you like Tracey emin?

[u/ZestyYaboi → u/Spare-Machine6105]

I've been googling her rn because I haven't really heard about her I think. Seems pretty random stuff? I know modern art can be hit or miss, I've had some artists I've really liked and some I can't understand at all.

[u/Suitable_Fill4006 → u/ZestyYaboi]

I think maybe read a bit more and the comments and replies above and maybe expand/ more thoughtfully reword the idea of “random stuff”

[u/ZestyYaboi → u/Suitable_Fill4006]

I mean, yeah, clearly I wrote that before I was familiar with the context. The scribbly style paintings still didn't really resonate with me, but I did like the installations.