Tracey Emin Discusses Gender in Art Development

Dame Tracey Emin, in a recent interview on The Louis Theroux podcast, asserted that male artists, such as Damien Hirst, tend to 'peak' in their forties, while women have the capacity to continue producing impactful work throughout their lives. Emin, 61, criticized Hirst, 59, indicating he has lost the 'belief' and 'conviction' he once had as a young artist. She emphasized the challenges of being an artist, noting that many people do not grasp the difficulty of maintaining self-belief and creative drive. To illustrate her point, Emin referenced artists like Louise Bourgeois and Joan Mitchell, who continued to create significant works into old age. Furthermore, Emin expressed her reluctance to join the royal family, describing it as a 'kind of living hell' due to its restrictions. She recently underwent surgery related to her health issues, which inspired her new collection titled 'A Journey To Death'.