Tracey Emin on authenticity, emotion, and her exhibition 'Leaving' in Rome

Tracey Emin (London, 1963) discusses her artistic practice and exhibition 'Leaving,' focusing on painting and drawing. She cites Edvard Munch and Egon Schiele as influences, emphasizing emotion and immediacy over conceptualism. Emin states, 'I don't consider myself a conceptual artist, I never was and never will be.' The show features works that oscillate between hidden and defined subjects, with broken lines, vivid colors, and inscriptions. A portrait of her mother doing a crossword puzzle is included. Emin reflects on her personal struggles, saying, 'I want to die, not commit suicide. I want to go to another place.' She believes an artist's first responsibility is to be true and express something not said before. Her 1999 work 'Everybody I Have Ever Slept With' invited viewers to read names and reflect on their own relationships. The exhibition is presented at Galleria Lorcan O'Neill in Rome.