Memories of growing up in Margate feature in Frontiers podcast with artist Tracey Emin

Tracey Emin

Tracey Emin is the subject of a revealing new podcast created by London-based innovation studio The Upside.

She is one of three speakers in the series entitled Frontiers, which is available on iTunes.

Tracey features alongside fellow ‘cultural pioneers and business innovators’ Alan Yau -founder of Wagamama and global entrepreneur- and DJ, broadcaster and music industry pioneer Gilles Peterson.

In the 15 minute Frontiers podcast the former Margate girl, who is currently preparing her new studio in Union Crescent, shares her thoughts on growing up in the town and it helped her to be creative. She also talks about how she made her first steps in the art world, her thoughts on the art industry and the secrets behind her processes.

Tracey Emin at the Dreamland opening

Tracey says Margate was “a fantastic backdrop” for growing up with “sea and sunsets,” adding: ““You could see as far as you wanted to see whereas when you grow up in a city, everything is closed in, there’s always a wall, there’s always a building, there’s always noise.

“But in Margate sometimes you would  just look and all you would have was the sound of the sea and something that went on for ever and ever.”

Tracey Emin, at the launch of the My Bed installation at Turner Contemporary

The 55-year-old, best known for art pieces My Bed –which was on display at Turner Contemporary last year – and the Everyone I Have Ever  Slept With tent, speaks of being single for the past 10 years and says she would have been “burned as a witch” in historical times.

The artist said her ideal life, if not creating art, would be rearing llamas and chickens on a farm in the south of France and doing lots of cooking.

Frontiers’ creators – The Upside are a London-based innovation consultancy whose clients include major brands such as adidas, Google, Coty and Heineken.

Founding Partner of The Upside Niku Banaie said: “What we wanted to do with Frontiers was to focus on people who excel in their fields and are at the forefront of cultural and business innovation. That concept is central to our own work at The Upside so we thought it would be interesting to gain insights into their own approaches and life philosophies and their respective paths to success.’

“The Tracey Emin Frontiers podcast is particularly fascinating as she talks very openly about her personal motivations and the challenges she has encountered throughout her career.”

Frontiers – Tracey Emin, can be found, alongside the other two Frontiers episodes on iTunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/frontiers-by-the-upside/id1435085995?mt=2

1 Comment

  1. Although to some extent harmless, I have mostly taken the view that so called “Conceptual” art like Tracy’s is more a cry for help! The ridiculous sums spent on this rubbish, by people with more money than sense, lends me to believe they are unbalanced! There are any amount of charities which would benefit instead, especially animal, and refugee ones, and provide a better sense of well being.

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