WHAT? Tracey Emin: A Second Life

WHERE? Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG

WHEN? Now until 31st August

WHY GO? For turbo charged art. Raw, visceral and not for the faint hearted, this is the Tracey who bares her heart, soul and other parts of her anatomy and it is harrowing in parts (her major surgery), joyful in others (her home videos) but above all, it’s her entire life recorded for all the world to see.

This retrospective with accompanying pop-ups brings her to the fore of everyone’s attention and it’s a roller coaster of a show not to be missed. If you are squeamish, best avoid the graphic polaroids where she records the traumatic medical journey which has made her more appreciative of life and of having been given a second chance, hence the exhibition title.

There have been many showings of her work but this is the first to start at the very beginning with her passport photo and videos of happy days, before it gets raw, dark and, it must be said, a tad ugly.

She is a complex artist, and it’s fascinating to see her trajectory, from Mad Tracey From Margate to the global icon she is today. While much of the work on show is as intimate as it gets, the large abstract paintings and sculptures she has completed more recently are proud powerful examples of how she pushes herself to the limits and why she is revered by fans the world over.

IN THE KNOW Dotted about London are reminders that Tracey is in town. “The good news is, I am still here”, she enthuses as her famous neon signs are emblazoned across buildings and billboards and her largest ever monumental sculpture is installed outside Tate Modern to introduce her exhibition.