Double act at the Tate

Jul 27 2007 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

TRACEY Emin and Peter Blake returned to their “adopted” home last night for an exclusive art event in Liverpool.

The pair, a self-confessed “double act”, were in conversation at the Tate to discuss the life and works of Blake, the subject of a major retrospective now on at the gallery.

They held court in front of a sell-out audience of just 100 people as part of the launch of Late at Tate, a new monthly late night opening.

Emin, one of the giants of the Young British Artist movement in the 1990s, and pop art stalwart Blake, 75, have been friends for several years – Emin even features in one of Blake’s series of paintings, The Marcel Duchamp World Tour – but they found it hard to recall if they had ever done an event like last night’s before.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Post, they said that even at the last minute they were not sure what would transpire during the conversation.

Blake said: “It will be a very open talk, and we’ll just see what happens.”

Emin said: “My main thing is that I know Peter, I know his work – or the thing is, I think I know. So I’m going to ask about the things I don’t know about him.”

“Like my middle name,” Blake quipped.

“Thomas,” she fired back.

Both artists have strong links to Liverpool and spoke of their pleasure to be back in the city for the event.

Blake will be forever synonymous with his artwork for Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and most recently has produced a series of prints inspired by Liverpool’s themed years.

Emin’s first piece of public sculpture, Roman Standard, depicting a small sparrow, was installed the grounds of the Anglican Cathedral in 2005.

Both served as judges for the John Moores 24 competition as part of last year’s Liverpool Biennial.

Blake said: “I’ve always felt like the adopted son of Liverpool, and Tracey is the adopted daughter. We both always seem to come back.”

“It’s any excuse to come back,” Emin added.

“I always said of European City of Culture – why Cologne, I’ve had a much better time in Liverpool than Cologne, or Berlin.

“For me it is really good – it’s the good time city.”

They also spoke of the strong part the Tate will play in next year’s Capital of Culture and their hopes to get involved.

Blake said: “With the exhibitions from Jake and Dinos [Chapman], myself, and the Turner Prize, it is all building up to next year.

“I imagine I will be involved in 2008 in some way, because it is the Biennial event as well.”

Emin said she would love to be involved in the city’s Capital of Culture year “if I’m invited”.

She said: “I’m supposed to be doing something in the Anglican Cathedral, so I will be.”

After the talk, the artists signed books for fans.

Late at Tate is to be a regular event held on the last Thursday of every month, each with a different theme and added entertainment.

Last night also featured film, poetry, a bar in the foyer, and Mellowtone DJs playing music including a selection of Emin and Blake’s own playlists.

vickyanderson