Tracey Emin exhibits new works at Turner Contemporary, Margate

neon wordings artwork
'She Lay down Deep Beneath The Sea' by Tracey Emin, 2012. Courtesy of the artist and White Cube
(Image credit: Ben Westoby)

The English seaside town of Margate has had a strong impact on artist Tracey Emin's output, inspiring everything from her intense neon pieces to the embroidered statements emblazoned on appliquéd blankets and chairs. 'Whatever I do, part of Margate always comes with me,' she once declared. So it is with much excitement (and nervousness) that Emin embarks on her first major exhibition in the town of her childhood.

Hot on the heels of the London-based artist's 2011 'Love is What You Want' retrospective at the Hayward Gallery, 'She Lay Down Deep Beneath the Sea' is a specially-conceived show for Margate. Visitors expecting to see evidence of Emin's dysfunctional childhood will be in for a surprise. The artist seems to have made peace with her troubled past in this confrontation-free show, instead exploring themes of love, sex and eroticism. For Emin, these echo the spirit of Margate: 'There is an eroticism here, it's a very passionate place, it's very gritty,' she said in a recent interview with art historian Tim Marlow

The show takes place at Turner Contemporary, David Chipperfield's landmark building, which dominates the seafront next to the harbour. Displayed throughout the gallery is a showcase of over 100 mostly-new works, including drawings, monoprints, sculptures, tapestries, embroideries and neons.

Installation view at Turner Contemporary

Installation view at Turner Contemporary

(Image credit: Stephen White)

Exhibition with drawings, monoprints, sculptures, tapestries, embroideries and neons

Emin's new showcase includes drawings, monoprints, sculptures, tapestries, embroideries and neons

(Image credit: press)

breakfast drawing

'Breakfast at the Grotto' by Tracey Emin, 2011.

(Image credit: Ben Westoby)

blue love wording artwork

'Last in Love' by Tracey Emin, 2011. Courtesy of the artist and White Cube

(Image credit: Ben Westoby)

blue furniture artwork

'Furniture' by Tracey Emin, 2011. Courtesy of the artist and White Cube 

(Image credit: Ben Westoby)

love wordings artwork

'I Didn’t Say' by Tracey Emin, 2011. Courtesy of the artist and White Cube

(Image credit: Ben Westoby)

neon lights that lit up Margate's Golden Mile

The neon lights that lit up Margate's Golden Mile during Emin's childhood are echoed time and again in her work

(Image credit: press)

'I Said No' artwork

'I Said No' by Tracey Emin, 2007. 

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Tracey Emin)

'laying on blue' woman artwork

'Laying on Blue' by Tracey Emin, 2011. Courtesy of the artist and White Cube

(Image credit: Ben Westoby)

blue artwork

'Sex 1 25-11-07 Sydney' by Tracey Emin. 

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Tracey Emin and Lehmann Maupin)

Tracey Emin exhibition artwork

Emin's work is displayed throughout the Turner Contemporary's first-floor galleries

(Image credit: press)

Themes of love, sex and eroticism in Turner Contemporary

The show reflects particularly on themes of love, sex and eroticism

(Image credit: press)

Tracey Emin artwork

Pictured in the foreground is 'Dead Sea' by Tracey Emin, 2012. Courtesy of the artist and White Cube

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Tracey Emin and White Cube)

ADDRESS

Turner Contemporary
Rendezvous
Margate
Kent
CT9 1HG

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