artyfax

Mad Tracey From Margate.

Not sure what my artyfact should be about Tracey. As I remember the first essay about her, published, was called "Tracey Emin has big tits and comes from Margate". Thats quite a good fact.

I must admit that in the past I have never seen myself as a fan of her work, but within 4 years I have accumulated two books (one signed) and the latest DVD offering "Top Spot"

Emin, in truth is mocked by the general public of Thanet (and most of Britain infact), she is seen almost as the village idiot, as proved in the public reaction to her wanting a neon sign on top of Doit House saying "I love Margate".

I feel now that she is very misunderstood, however it does take alot of patience to see her way of thinking. The sentiment of making such a neon sign I feel says it all. Even in her film in the commentary she says that she wants Margate to be a star. In reality all she is trying to do is shed some good light on a town which has become so used to bad things happening to it, that it just expects the worst from everything and everyone.

The truth though is that we people from Thanet experience something the same as Emin and therefore have something in common with some of her work. That is that we all suffer the same micro-nationalism as her. (credit to Arts & Elbows for this thought) That is that the slightest thing referencing Margate, having Margate in it, or whatever we seem to take great pride in. This is the reason that I started liking the band The Dead 60s, who recently supported Stereophonics. The reason was that their music video for "The Last Resort" was shot in Margate. I also started liking Chas and Dave for the same reason, and its probably the same reason i'm so completely involved with Margate Football Club.

I find it strange that alot more people don't find Emin's love for Margate so utterly compelling, if not understandable, because the same reason we all own or have seem x amount of times the only fools and horses Jolly boys outing is the same reason her work keeps coming back to the seaside town.

I'm not entirely sure where I am going with all this, I guess I'm just thinking out loud as to why I have spent the best part of 40 pounds on Emin. The movie itself was very hard work. Infact i'm not sure that you could call it a movie. It was more a collection of various ideas and moving pictures bundled together and given a overall feeling that this is what growing up at Margate is like. Did I enjoy it? Of course I did, but i'm not sure people who aren't from the area would feel the same. I guess the real test would be to premiere it to the rest of my housemates.

I feel like I know alot more about Emin now, and since i've started learning the hard way (reading) I have alot of respect for her, and her work, and as long as her work involves my hometown, I guess i'll always be reaching into my pockets for more.

I'm sorry for this artyfact, its not very funny, or clever, or true/false, but I really needed to write about this why it was all on my mind. Next time I promise it'll be utter balls.

onelosthousemate would like to thank http://artsandelbows.blogspot.com/ for telling me the DVD was coming out (you owe me £17.99 because ignorance is bliss) and for letting me read is blog to get some ideas churning around in my brain.

The blog is very insightful and thoughtful, and I bet they might be reading half the above thinking that I have just said in places what they have said previously, well if that is the case 1. I apologise, and 2. it just shows how influential you are, just don't write in your blog that killing the president of turkmenistwomanstan is a good idea.

posted by onelosthousemate @ 9:22 PM