11/08/2026
EMIN
ANDERSON
ROYAL ACADEMY
Three shows in one day, you say? ✔️
Spent some much needed time alone today, wondering around galleries, taking it all in, taking inspiration and thinking ‘F**k It!’ I really should experiment more, play more and not to be afraid to create more artwork.
Controversially I didn’t enjoy the Tracey Emin exhibition as much as I thought I would. The dark walls of the Tate Modern really made it hard to see the work properly and I remember the show at White Cube being better because of the light walls and more physical space…
However Hurvin Anderson at Tate Britain was superb! The richness and depth of the paintings evoked the hot sticky feeling of actually being in the Caribbean, whilst the paintings of the concrete jungle of Birmingham made you feel lonely and trapped, but left you wanting more.
TBH by the time I got to the RA Summer Show I was a bit overwhelmed, especially as the first room has got so much work, it is just too crowded to view any of it comfortably. There are works by the usual suspects, and some pieces I loved… but not much neon and even less flowers! (What do they know!)
The day ended with a visit to the RA Young Artists Show which was bloody brilliant and for me just a tiny weeny bit better than the show upstairs! Even noticed a piece of work by one of our talented SEEVIC students in the show.
I bought more handmade paper and more postcards, both of which I don’t need, but they were reduced 😎
