We have just returned from a trip over the bridge to Art Consultant Amanda Love's fabulous house in Woollahra to see the Tracey Emin exhibition, "Praying to a Different God". Emin became notorious in the 1990's as one of the Young British Artists, or YBAs, who were nurtured by Charles Saatchi and upset the public sensibility with exhibitons of rather confronting work - infamous examples were Damien Hirst's shark preserved in formaldehyde and Tracey Emin's unmade bed. More recently, Emin's work has been more introspective and intimate, often involving whimsical drawing and embroidery. The works in "Praying to a Different God" utilise neon, embroidery and drawing to explore what it is to be human. Each piece contains poignant and heartfelt meassages about hope, love, self, past and future.
Former arts lawyer Amanda Love established LoveART, an independent Art Advisory that specialises in sourcing contemporary art form all over the world. She hosts occasional events and exhibitions in her beautiful Victorian home in Sydney. A series of huge, white-painted rooms that are minimal while blessed with period grace and a sleek white box rear extension provide a perfect but intimate setting for displaying art. We were jealous!
Unfortunately, the show closed today. If you are in Australia, click here to see a clip of Emin and Love being interviewed at the Woollahra house for ABC's Art Nation last November.
