Tracey Emin at White Cube Bermondsey
Many publications or outlets that seek writing about art, contemporary or otherwise, have no desire for the first person. There's a seemingly masculine urge to separate oneself from artworks when documenting your experience. You're supposed to be moved enough by art to play the part of a consumer, or even a collector, but feel anything personal, and you've crossed a line. While the binary positioning of the viewer and artist roles have their place in art criticism (i.e. sometimes we learn from artists, and that is that), often the artist is conveying a message that is crying out for tenderness. Yes, take it personally. One such exhibition is Tracey Emin's latest body of work at White Cube Bermondsey, consisting of large-scale paintings, bronze sculptures and a video piece. Crucially, during the artist talk at the show's opening press breakfast (more on that later), Emin stated that she makes work almost relentlessly, not thinking within the constraints of this exhib
