Tracey Emin's "A Fortnight of Tears" (2018) is a profoundly emotional and autobiographical exhibition that was displayed at White Cube Bermondsey in London from February 6 to April 7, 2019. This exhibition encompasses a wide range of media, including painting, photography, large-scale sculpture, film, and neon text, all deeply rooted in Emin's personal experiences and emotions. The works collectively explore themes of loss, grief, longing, and spiritual love, offering an intimate glimpse into the artist's life and psyche.

Central to the exhibition are Emin’s new paintings, characterized by an expressive use of pinks and reds. These colors evoke a heightened sense of physicality and raw emotion, depicting parts of the female body in a manner that conveys themes of death, abortion, and sexuality. Works like "I Watched You Disappear. Pink Ghost" (2018) and "But You Never Wanted Me" (2018) illustrate figures that appear ghostly and dissolving, emphasizing the transient and fragile nature of human existence (White Cube) (Berlin Art Link).

The Ashes Room, a focal point of the exhibition, is dedicated to exploring different states of bereavement and mourning, particularly in relation to the death of Emin's mother. Paintings such as "I Could Feel You" (2018) and "I Was Too Young to be Carrying Your Ashes" (2017-2018) poignantly depict the artist’s grief through intense, gestural brushstrokes. The room's melancholic atmosphere is further enhanced by the grey tones of the walls, creating a space that resonates with sorrow and loss (White Cube) (Culture Whisper).

In addition to the paintings, the exhibition includes a new film that captures Emin’s reflections on carrying her mother's ashes, imbuing the work with a sense of personal and emotional weight. The film, along with the neon installations like "I Longed for You" (2019), highlights the recurring theme of spiritual love—a form of connection that transcends physical absence and loss (White Cube) (Culture Whisper) .

The exhibition also features Emin’s largest bronze sculptures to date, such as "The Mother" (2017), which represents a kneeling nude figure in a maternal pose. This sculpture, along with others that portray female figures in vulnerable and eroticized positions, underscores Emin’s exploration of the female form and motherhood (Berlin Art Link) (RUSSH).

"A Fortnight of Tears" is a deeply personal and affecting exhibition that showcases Tracey Emin’s ability to transform her own pain and experiences into powerful, universal expressions of human emotion. The works collectively create a poignant narrative of loss, love, and resilience, solidifying Emin’s place as one of the most compelling contemporary artists (Artsy) (RUSSH) .