A love letter to JMW Turner from Margate artist Tracey Emin was illuminated on the side of Turner Contemporary last night (April 23).
The ‘For Turner’ projection marked JMW Turner’s birthday as part of a year long Turner 250 celebration.
Turner Contemporary says: “Emin, one of Margate’s most celebrated contemporary artists, finds deep inspiration in Turner’s emotive use of light and atmosphere.
“The projection will serve as both a tribute to Turner and a testament to Margate’s thriving contemporary art scene, highlighting the town’s ongoing artistic legacy and its ability to inspire generations of artists.”
Born on 23 April 1775, Turner rose from modest beginnings to redefine landscape painting and create some of the most iconic depictions of the natural world ever produced. His influence continues to resonate, through the Turner Prize, his place on the £20 note alongside Turner Contemporary, and countless artists inspired by his work.
Dame Tracey Emin burst onto the art scene with the Young British Artists of the ’90s with confrontational pieces like her appliquéd tent listing Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995, and her Turner Prize–nominated My Bed.
In January 2017, she bought her 30,000-square-foot stretch of the Thanet Press building in Margate and created a flat and studios.
In 2020 the artist received a diagnosis of bladder cancer and underwent an operation in the Summer. She is in remission from the cancer.
In 2022 she was made an Honorary Freewoman of Margate in recognition of her international acclaim as an artist and her investment in the cultural and physical environment of Margate.
The following year she opened TKE Studios (Tracey Karima Emin) and her artist residency project in Margate,
Last year she became a recipient of the Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire honour.
how they can mention mr turner and tracey emin in the same breath is beyond me ?
Tracey is an eminent artist of her generation. She is an ambassador for Margate. And she wants to do something to highlight the work of Turner. So please cut the criticism.
You don’t get to control what people say about her & neither does she. She is a public figure who has done attention grabbing stunts based around her lack of talent for decades. It is fair comment. She has plenty of people like yourself kissing her rear end, which you have no issue with, people are entitled to express a contrary viewpoint.
No GB I do not spend ages kissing her rear end. OMG. I simply like that she sticks up for Margate and wants to praise Turner
Great & a lot of people think her ‘art’ is total rubbish & are perfectly at liberty to say so, just as you & others are to praise her.
Tracey who? Never heard of an artist of that name.
That’s another good reason not to go to the Turner warehouse
There are a lot of bitter people on this thread. Just saying.
The woman in that photo looks a bit sour-faced too.
Ian Drivers graffiti on Dickens House was pretty much the same yet he got done for it, can someone explain the difference.
Same as Banksy’s stuff – one law for them one law for us? is this a prime example of our two tier system?
And when I was a teenager and my bedroom looked like Emin’s, I got no pocket money until I tidied it!
Wow, what a masterpiece! It completely overshadows Turner. The least we can do now is rename Northdown Road to Tracey Enim Boulevard.
Tracy Emin is guaranteed to jump on any passing bandwagon! Talented Turner is just a means to an end for this non-artist!
The question remains, where’s Polly? Billigton rarely misses an opportunity for free drinks & canapés!
Tracy Emin is NOT an artist, she’s a self-publicist! She and Nigel Farage are a good match for each other! Both grifters!
Oh ,my darling Turner,lay me down and plant your seeds into my hot,throbbing loins,on my soiled and unkempt bed.Please be my 784th conquest.