Tracey Emin’s exhibition ‘I Followed You to the End’ at White Cube in London explores her emotional journey through illness, reflecting themes of loss, resilience, and the profound connection to life through her art. The works portray her struggles with cancer and the beauty found within pain, delivered through vivid colours and expressive text.
Tracey Emin’s latest exhibition, ‘I Followed You to the End’, at White Cube Bermondsey, London, encapsulates her emotional journey through loss and recovery from a serious illness. Emin describes her creative process as an instinctive outpouring of anger and grief, where she paints fervently and layers text automatically, leading to her poignant phrase, “I followed you to the end.” This reflects her dedication and the heartache of reaching emotional finality, especially following her bladder cancer diagnosis in 2020 and subsequent surgery. The exhibition features her raw artistic expression, portraying visceral themes such as mortality and resilience. Emin’s works incorporate the imagery of her stoma—a representation of both life’s fragility and beauty—with rich colours like lavender and pastel pink, evoking both pain and tenderness. In a video included in the exhibition, her daily experience with her stoma highlights profound acceptance and beauty in her struggle: “This blood that is flowing is my blood, and that should be a positive thing. My blood is flowing. It’s pulsing, it’s breathing, it’s alive.” Among the intense emotions explored, Emin also pays homage to sources of comfort, such as her beloved cats, integrating them into her domestic universe of art. She likens her artistic evolution to climbing a mountain, where her ultimate achievement is painting, a medium emblematic of her personal journey, resilience, and expression of love. The exhibition runs from 19 September to 10 November 2024.
Tracey Emin is known for her deeply personal artworks that often explore themes of love, loss, and trauma. Following her diagnosis of aggressive bladder cancer, Emin has channelled her experiences of illness and recovery into her art. ‘I Followed You to the End’ is a culmination of her exploration of mortality, identity, and the relationships that shape one’s existence, using painting as her primary medium. Emin’s work is characterised by its emotional intensity and raw honesty, often making her struggles relatable to a broader audience.
Emin’s exhibition at White Cube Bermondsey is a powerful exploration of personal trauma and recovery. Through her vivid paintings and the incorporation of her experiences with cancer, she not only confronts her own mortality but also celebrates life’s beauty. Her work serves as a testament to the healing power of art and the importance of self-expression in times of hardship.
Original Source: www.wallpaper.com