Tracey Emin (b.1963) is a British artist best known for her autobiographical artworks. Once considered an "enfant terrible" of the English art world, her work is now confirmed within the canon of art history and feminist art. She is also one of the most prominent members of the Young British Artists (YBAs).
Emin established her reputation in the U.K. in the mid-90's with works such as "Everyone I Ever Slept With 1963-1995" which consisted of a blue tent with the appliquéd names of every person she'd slept with. Shown at the legendary "Sensation" exhibition, it was ridiculed at the time, yet today it's considered as a icon of the YBA era. Deservingly, Emin was nominated for the Turner prize in 1999.
All of Emin's work is deeply personal and instantly recognizable despite producing works across a variety of mediums. Emin bravely exhibits her most personal lived-experiences like sexual assault, mental health, abortion, violence, and heartbreak.
This important early work was created by Emin during an intense ten day period. “Exploration of the Soul” recounts Emin’s life from conception to the day when her virginity was forcibly taken at 13 years old.
The pages are written in pencil, and are riddled with spelling errors giving the work a naive, childlike quality. Throughout the text Emin revisits those childhood moments that affected her, laying them bare, and approaching them anew as an adult woman.
In 2001 she told the British Council “The book is a mental journey – my coming to terms with beauty, innocence and evil combined.”
The work itself consists of a signed first edition numbered monograph,
(including an inscription by the artist "I wanted this to be the truth, Tracey Emin 1994"), two original photographs (of Emin and her twin brother as children), a unique monoprint, and a unique hand-sewn cloth bag featuring the artist’s initials in green fabric.
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"Exploration of the Soul"
Britain, 1994
Hand signed and numbered monograph, unique hand sewn canvas bag with appliqué text, photographs and monoprint.
Each hand sewn cloth bag from this edition is unique
From an edition of 200
8”H 8”W (monograph)
Very good condition
