Tracey Emin 'LOVE IS WHAT YOU WANT' at Hayward Gallery

August weekends always seems to be totally packed for me and seemingly everyone else, so I was relieved when I was able to take a day off in the week and catch the Tracey Emin show at the Hayward, entitled 'Love is what you want' (after her work of the same name, see below)

With the show coming to an end there have inevitably been excellent reviews on Emin's work and the show itself, notably the fairly critical one on the Guardian here, and also honest takes on the exhibition from the Telegraph and the Independent.

What is it about this female, feminist artist that irks some people? I don't quite know myself. She is the subject of her own work but in some ways it is the autobiographical style which reels you in. Tracey is clearly an interesting woman, not afraid to confront her demons, address her flaws, analyse her own personality. I can relate to that. Elements of her work make me think of letters, diaries and zines.

My personal highlights were the quilts...

‘Hotel International’ (1993)

‘Mad Tracey from Margate. Everyone’s Been There’ (1997)

I read Strangeland a couple of years ago and it provoked negative comments from some friends at the time. I can't put my finger on why. Its as if some people begrudge her for making art about herself, or they feel she has no talent or she should keep schtum. I wonder if she was a man, would people feel the same way. I think she's really brave, and really bares her soul, she is clearly creative and original and as a result whatever you think of her, her work is engrossing.

I do recommend going to the exhibition as the works on display span the 90's to the present day across a variety of mediums. I loved Strangeland, for the record. I also loved some of the films in the exhibition including 'How it feels', a 25 minute film of her recalling personal experiences of abortion. Incredibly moving, I really felt for her.

Tracey Emin’s I’ve Got It All (2000)

The neon signs showed her funny side, often being more lighthearted in many ways. Her later work is more sketches and sculptures rather than being text based and in some ways I found this less interesting. Maybe what we all want is the enigma of Tracey, rather than her artwork. Who knows... While I don't agree with everything she says, I could relate to her work and I bet I'm not the only one who finds themselves taken with it, begrudgingly or not. Beware, strong language features heavily in the exhibition, if you're worried about that sort of thing.

This show runs for one more week, until 29th August, but if from what I've said you think it will interest you in any way, I urge you to make time and go to see it and the £12 odd it costs is worth it for a substantial retrospective which sheds new light on a well known artist. The gallery will open late on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I would also say that this review from The London Review of Books is the best I've seen for a descriptive overview and references to other artists that you might like if you're a Tracey fan.