In a captivating exhibition at the Carl Freedman Gallery in Margate, renowned artist Tracey Emin has curated a show that takes visitors on a descent into the depths of human emotion and the shadows of the human experience. “Crossing into Darkness” brings together a diverse array of artists, from established icons like Edvard Munch and Louise Bourgeois to up-and-coming talents nurtured at Emin’s own studios, creating a profound and unsettling exploration of the human condition.
As one steps into the gallery, the atmosphere is immediately enveloping, with the space plunged into a nocturnal hush that allows the art to take center stage. Emin’s own self-portrait, a striking screenprint that seems to radiate pools of blackness, sets the tone for the exhibition, inviting the viewer to cross into the darkness alongside the artists.
The exhibition features a range of mediums, from Antony Gormley’s haunting concrete waiistcoat to the bizarre, striking paintings of Joline Kwakkenbosch, who depicts herself in 18th-century costume, stabbing her own figure. The doomier aspects of the show are exemplified by Louise Bourgeois’ wailing, malformed sculpture, a visceral response to Munch’s iconic “The Scream.”
Emin has curated a show that is not for the faint of heart, with artists delving into the realms of horror, conspiracy, and the macabre. Lindsey Mendick’s ceramic busts of putrid, zombie-like figures, and Laura Foote’s allegorical painting of the lords of business and politics seated at a long meeting table with a looming Dracula castle, all contribute to the unsettling atmosphere.
Yet, amidst the darkness, there are glimmers of hope. Emin herself speaks of the exhibition as a recognition of the difficult times we live in, but also as a source of solace, drawing from her own experience of cancer and the understanding that “in darkness, we discover light.” The exhibition culminates in Emin’s own large painting, “I Am Protected,” which depicts a woman curled up on her bed, with a ghostly figure standing over her – a vision that the artist sees as a comforting presence, rather than a source of fear.
“Crossing into Darkness” is a powerful and thought-provoking exhibition that challenges the viewer to confront the darkest aspects of the human experience, while also offering a glimmer of hope and the promise of renewal. Emin’s curatorial vision is a testament to her ability to curate a show that is both deeply personal and profoundly universal.