'A Fortnight of Tears': Tracey Enim @ White Cube Bermondsey

I was reading the March 2019 issue of Vogue and came across a great insightful interview with Tracey Enim. She was describing how she decided to have a break from the art world and hide away and her reflection on some of the mistakes she believed she made in her career. Major catalyst for this was her experience of tragedy (her mum was ill and passed away) and heartbreak (ex boyfriends). I've always been a fan of Enim's work and I always saw the brilliance in her work when many saw (and probably still do) only outrage in her style of art. So when I saw that she had a new exhibition and I needed some inspiration, I decided to take a look.

I have never been to White Cube before and its such beautiful space. Literally anything will look amazing in there! I want to say I want to have my work shown there but its not like I have a huge back catalogue so maybe I will stick to being an observer. For now... I love the rawness of the brick and concrete of the building outside and then the feeling of expansion inside with the white, almost silvery lights ahead.

Step inside and we are shown a poem on insomnia. Now as I read this, I swear I said YES to every line. Because everything she said and described is what I have felt when I have had bouts of being unable to sleep.

It's a powerful introduction to what you are about to see for the rest of her work.

In the next room, you see giant photos taken on her iPhone showing her in a state of unrest from insomnia. The photos are all confrontational and imposing and instructive. A bit like how insomnia feels if it was a person. Now because I'm not totally sold on technology being involved in art because I like things that are manual to produce work, I am usually very wary of people using iPhones for art purposes. However, I know that's a very narrow minded view and I should get over it. Just because they are selfies and not taken on film with an SLR does not take away from the message she is trying to convey. I found this room quite overpowering so I didn't stay for long to look at them all. So I guess this made this work a success!

Now I'm definitely here for the paintings. After all that's what I love best: photographs and paintings. In this exhibition, Enim's painting are mostly created with tones of pink and blue and purple and red. Feminine and royal colours. Also life and death. There are self portraits as herself is her common subject matter as well as made up figures. Her paintings are expressive as her words. It's in the motion of her brushwork where they really tell a story. She makes the harrowing seemingly beautiful. And when you see the titles of some the work, it is quite horrific and disturbing to see what is in front of you.

If I haven't put a title underneath, its because I'm rubbish at noting down titles whilst I'm actually there and have to research them after. And I know the photography isn't the best. I'll get better.

But you never wanted me (2018)

In The Dead Dark of night I wanted you (2018)

There are many paintings depicting scenes of her mother whilst she was ill. This painting below was particularly moving to me.

I wanted to go with you- to Another world (2018)

The central figure looks vulnerable with a faded halo above with her head and she is also faceless, meaning that she may no longer be herself. The figure to the right may be the nurse but they also look like the virgin Mary as the red runs down the canvas, it depicts a sense of life running out and perhaps the numbers in the circle could be time becoming limited. 

Enim is never afraid to show vulnerable and fragile side of her self. Even though she doesn't give a shit at the same time. Its a beautiful sight to see even though it can be uncomfortable to watch for the more sensitive viewer.