Tracey Emin Art At Venice

Tracey Emin is ecstatic she was chosen to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale. She told Martin Gayford for the Telegraph why she loves the art festival so much. Two years ago when she was at the Venice Biennale, Tracey Emin had a conversation with a friend. " 'Look', I said, 'given the choice between being in Venice out of season with a lover, and representing Britain at the Biennale, which would you rather have?' "He looked at me and said, 'What? Why have you got to make a choice?' And I said, 'Because life's like that, believe me. It's a f***ing Faustian pact.' " Well, since then, she's been offered the Biennale and - whether it is a fateful bargain or not - said yes. This year, Emin's art work will be seen in the Biennale's British Pavilion, where so many celebrated - and some less famous - predecessors have exhibited. It would be an understatement to say she's pleased. Emin, born in 1963, is now in mid-career, famous and extremely busy. She is, of course, with Damien Hirst, perhaps the best-known of all the not-so-young British artists who emerged to fame in the 1990s. Her work, almost invariably autobiographical, is made in many media - painting, drawing, text, installation, neon, video, photography. She is best known, or if you prefer, most notorious, for the appliqué tent, Everyone I Have Ever Slept With, 1963-1995 (1995), destroyed in the Momart fire, and My Bed (1999) which is just that, complete with soiled underwear, stained sheets and empty bottles. (For full source and article click the Headline). Irish Art