Artist Tracey Emin opens up about her 'second life' after a harrowing battle with aggressive cancer and extensive surgery. She shares details of her upcoming Tate Modern exhibition, her philanthropic initiatives in Margate, and her candid views on past controversies, societal issues, and the transformative power of art.
Tracey Emin, the iconic artist, reflects on her 'second life' following a severe battle with squamous cell cancer in 2020. She underwent extensive surgery, including the removal of her bladder, uterus, lymph nodes, and parts of her vagina, urethra, and bowel, now living with a urostomy bag. Emin candidly discusses the daily physical challenges, chronic infections, and fatigue, yet expresses profound gratitude for this second chance, which has brought her a new sense of peace and purpose. This 'second life' is the title of her forthcoming major exhibition at Tate Modern, a 40-year retrospective showcasing her evolution. The show will feature controversial early works like 'My Bed' and 'Why I Never Became A Dancer,' alongside new photographs of her post-operative body, juxtaposed with images from her youth. Emin addresses past criticisms of her work as self-absorbed, arguing that it tackled themes of female experience, sexual violence (including her own rape at 13), and societal judgment long before they were widely accepted. Her near-death experience prompted a permanent relocation to Margate, where she is now building a philanthropic empire. This includes providing low-rent housing and studios for artists, establishing an art school, and converting a former morgue into a training kitchen for the unemployed, all aimed at revitalizing her hometown. Emin shares her strong political views, condemning the far right and their immigration rhetoric, and recalling a past encounter with UKIP where she asserted her diverse heritage. She champions education as a solution to poverty and critiques the challenges faced by young girls in the social media age, advocating for slower, more personal forms of expression. Despite her health struggles, Emin finds happiness in her focus on art, expressing no regrets about not having children but regretting smoking and 'the B-list years' of excessive partying. She values her 'sovereignty' and the freedom to live life on her own terms, finding deep meaning in the creative process. Painting is now central to her world, described as an 'explosion' where she pours her heart onto the canvas, empowering herself and others to feel. She feels happier than ever, determined to live fully after realizing she doesn't want to die.
