Sometimes I Feel Lonely But It’s Ok
Signed Print

Emin was born in the far south of London in 1963. She grew up in the midst of a blooming technicolour age referred to as ‘The Swinging Sixties’. Her adolescent years were characterised by a youth-driven cultural revolution built on modern and self-indulgent ways of thinking.

Emin’s outstanding artistry is defined by her innate ability to convey emotion through the process of drawing. Her works on paper are technically accomplished and manifest her devotion to her craft. She is an expressionist whose jagged contours and rapid lines convey our anxiety at being human when confronted with the complexities of life. What better creature to envelop all of these touchstones than a bird.

Sometimes I Feel Lonely But It’s Ok from 2002 depicts a tiny sparrow resting contemplatively on a cherry blossom branch. Sparrows are often associated with unconditional love and spiritual connection. Yet, their connotation is twofold, as they are also considered to be the harbingers of death. Emin plays on this duality, emphasising the creature's fragility and innocence. Her docile soul catcher sits calmly, awaiting its cue. The artist later utilised the same illustration for her white china teapot titled Foundling and Fledglings of 2007.