Lifetime Achievement Award for Dame Tracey Emin, DBE RA

One of Britain’s most acclaimed and successful female artists, Dame Tracey rose to fame as one of The Young British Artists in the late 1980s, known for the way they experimented with different materials and processes to create often controversial works. Someone who has always produced deeply personal pieces, her work has often provoked as much outrage as it has praise. Throughout her career, she has remained fiercely true to her intent to create art that “is a place where people can expose themselves by looking at it, and they can feel their own feelings and their own emotions.”

“In the early days of my career, the art world was so sexist and misogynistic. The idea of being a painter back then was almost impossible, because it was such an entrenched man’s world – not in a casting couch way, but more in a butch, macho, beardy way. I think that’s why a lot of women who did art took up different mediums. That’s really changed – there are a lot of female museum directors now, women curators, art journalists and artists too. Plus, a lot of women artists from history who’ve been wiped out are coming to the fore. But women’s work still sells for significantly less than men’s. So things still have to change.”

“A quote I always refer to is ‘A lot of ships are named after women, but very few women own them’. I own my own ship, and it’s named after me. I left school at 13, and I’ve never had help from anyone. I’ve done every single thing on my own.”

“When I found out I’d been made a Dame, on one level, I really wanted it, but on another, I thought how ridiculous. The first person who rang to congratulate me was Sir Elton John. I said “there’s very few of us from our background who’ve achieved what we have” to which he replied, “yea, but you’ve got to admit it, Tracey, it’s a bit of an oxymoron!” But it’s good for all Traceys, and it definitely signifies a change in the tide.”

“When I was diagnosed and thought I might only have six months to live, it made me realise that my love of art is bigger than just about me making art. Art, for me, is such a beautiful thing because it comes from inside us. It doesn’t hurt anyone. It makes the world a better place and helps us understand it and ourselves better. So I want to create more art, and the best way to do that is to help more artists to create art after I’m gone.”

“I’ve established the Tracey Emin Foundation in a refurbished building in Margate that used to be a public swimming pool. TKE studios give 12 professional artists a physical space, a mental space, a learning space, to create their art in a really good, safe, warm environment.”

“Alongside that, I’ve set up an educational programme, The Tracey Emin Artist Residency (TEAR), which runs on the same level as a Masters. Both the studio space and the residency are completely free. It means that people who would never have the opportunity to get that level of education can apply on the merit of their work and not how much money they have.”

“The fact that I thought I was going to die and I’ve been given this second chance gives me no excuses not to do it. Paying back to society is an important thing. It’s what makes the world go round. I don’t see this as a debt, it’s something I want to give back. What I didn’t realise, though, was the immense amount of pleasure that it was going to give me.”

“People say “Oh but it must be taking a lot out of your own work,” but I’ve never worked so hard in my life! When your time is limited, when you’re dedicating it to something else, then you make the most of the time you have for yourself.”

“Margate’s becoming a bit of epicentre for the arts. People are flocking here to see what’s going on. And part of that is to do with what I’m doing and that’s a legacy within itself – changing the history of the town to be something really positive. That’s a giant added bonus. When I die, there will be a really brilliant museum and my art collection here. It’ll all be part of having a day out in Margate.”

“The women who inspire me are Louise Bourgeois because she made really tiny art and really giant art. Being a woman and moving scale like that, she proved you can do what you want to do. And her career only really took off when she was about 64. I was really good friends with Vivienne Westwood, and I’d have massive arguments with her. But lo and behold, every fucking thing she said, she was right. And, of course, my mum, for her humility. She had a really tough life, and she never complained, which I think is pretty incredible. She had a strong feminist attitude on my behalf. She wanted me to have everything she hadn’t had. And a free life.”

“What would my advice be to my younger self? Don’t smoke would be my number one piece of advice. And don’t keep being fucked up the wrong hole – in a metaphysical way.”

“I can’t live without my cats – Teacup and Pancake. They’re the sweetest, loveliest cuddliest, most adorable little things in the world. They follow me everywhere. Pancake watches me do every single painting, and Teacup sleeps next to me on the pillow every night. Their love and calmness and serenity is really important to me.”

“I think it surprises people that I’m very quiet. I don’t listen to loud music. I like dim lights. I listen to classical piano music constantly, and I have a very quiet lifestyle. I’ve never been into drugs, and I don’t drink any more. I go to bed most nights at about 9 o’clock. When I was young, I was wild, but I’m 61 now. My wild days are over.”

Interview by Diane Kenwood.