It has been over 26 years that Tracey Emin uses neon consistently as a creative
medium. The process of creating an art piece for her begins with a message, a
thought or a feeling. Emin created her first neon work in 1995. She grew in
Margate, a town where she was always near a neon sign; her use of neon is
inspired by her childhood memories of the neon illuminations in her English
seaside town.

Many artists have used neon lights as a medium since the 1960s but while many
preferred to use molded letters and neutral writing, Tracey Emin stands out
because she has chosen to use her own handwriting in combination with
powerful statements.

They feature deeply emotional quotes that grapple with the fragility of love and
life. “I love writing. I think every artist has a backbone to what they do. For some it
could be photography, painting, the ability to make a formal sculpture stand, but for
me it’s writing” (Tracey Emin cited in: Exh. Cat., London, Hayward Gallery, Tracy
Emin: Love is What you Want, 2011, p. 24).

Emin started working with neon because of the material’s ability to ignite
emotion. "Neon is emotional for everybody," Emin once explained, "the neon and
argon gases make us feel positive, that's why you have neon at funfairs, casinos,
red-light districts, and bars. Neon can help people who suer from depression."

By incorporating poetry, mystery, color and light into an art piece, the artist
condenses herself in her neon works.

In 2013, a retrospective of Emin’s neon work at MOCA in Miami, demonstrated
the central importance neon holds in her practice.

The Armory Show 2023

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