on Tracey Emin

i've never thought much of Tracey Emin. the work has always maintained a kind of forced rawness, leaving it a little vacuous and lacking in intent. the Young British Artists tag was good timing for her, and i can appreciate that she has forged a career making the art she does.


her 2011 appointment at the Royal Academy as Professor of Drawing - only the 2nd woman since the RA founded in 1768! - is a bit of a strange one - she can't draw. her drawings get raved about - the passion! stripped bare!.... but i don't buy it.























The images above and right are by Egon Schiele. he has influenced a number of contemporary artists, including Emin. But where Emin 'scribbles' sexuality, he draws it. but don't get wrong, i know the art barricades are down and anything goes....


i just don't see the substance in Emins work, she so desperately wants there to be meat that there ends up being very little, and that sort of search has its finality in self consciousness and an awkwardness for the sake of being awkward. She has said,"There are some days when i can draw and some days when i can't draw". The drawing of the Queen, bottom, was what sort of day?