Tracey Emin
Performance (October 8, 1994)
A reading from "Exploration of the Soul - a Journey Across America"
500 Sampsonia Way, 1st floor
Tracey Emin's reading is from her autobiographical book, "Exploration of the Soul." She is traveling with a chair that she embroiders as she travels.
"One day - a kind of warm
summer day - my mum - was running
down the hill - screaming - my baby - my baby - what's wrong
with my baby -
I was hung across her arms - my stomach - was about to explode
I had on my pink and white striped nightie
I felt my eyes rolling -
and my head was gone - Paul was
riding down the hill on his chopper bike.
I remember the yellow -
He was calling don't worry sis -
Sis don't worry - I'll get him for you
I'll get him -
In the hospital I had to shit into a toilet
that had no chain - there was a hole in the
bottom - that collected by shit - they put it
into a little tub - the police woman was
talking to me - but I kept kind of sleeping -
Aunty Joyce was there - she was saying have
you been naughty - mucking around -
playing strange games -
I don't know - what strange games
were - to me it was all real -
I just lay there -
my blood slowly moving
around my body
was I really all alive
had not part of me died -
my world existed
outside of me -
How could I explain this-
to ascend -
and keep ascending -
Dear God I thought -
every part of me
is bleeding."
Tracey Emin
Born London, 1963, lives and works in London
"A few years ago my Nan gave me a small green bucket-shaped arm chair. It's not that special to look at, in fact, it's a bit shabby. My Nan is 93 now and the chair is nearly as old as she is - when she gave me the chair she told me:
"There's a lot of money in chairs.
"I believe she is right - I've decided that this chair is my inheritance - an inheritance to my future. I have decorated the chair with patchwork, embroidery and applique. It tells the story of my life. I've written a book called 'Exploration of the Soul' which is about me - my beginning - from the moment of conception to the time I lost my virginity: age 0 - 13.
"I will travel across America by road from San Francisco to New York with the chair and copies of my book. I will be giving one-night performances reading my book in galleries and other venues."
Selected Solo Exhibitions
1994 Gramercy International Art Fair, Jay Jopling/White Cube, New York
1993 My Major Retrospective, Jay Jopling/White Cube, New York
1990 The Calling of Saint Anthony, London
1986 Show of Letters, Antwerp
Selected Group Exhibitions
1994 Karaoke & Football, Portikus, Frankfurt
1994 Other Men's Flowers, London Portfolio, London
1993 The Shop (with Sarah Lucas), 103 Bethnal Green Road, London
1992 A Woman's Perspective, Bookworks, London
1989 Graphic Norvegia, Oslo
1987 Chicago Art Exposition, Curwen Gallery, Chicago
1985 Artists Books, Bookworks, London
Référence: http://www.mattress.org/Catalogue/emin.html