Meaning: The quote "I thought it would be my one and only exhibition, so I decided to call it My Major Retrospective" by Tracey Emin, an artist known for her confessional and autobiographical style, reflects her unique approach to art and her willingness to challenge traditional notions of artistic practice. Emin's statement captures her bold and unapologetic attitude toward her work and the art world, as well as her penchant for self-reflection and introspection.

Tracey Emin is a British contemporary artist who emerged as part of the Young British Artists (YBAs) in the 1990s. Known for her provocative and emotionally charged works, Emin has garnered international acclaim for her exploration of personal experiences, sexuality, and identity. Her art often blurs the boundaries between art and life, inviting viewers to engage with her deeply personal and often raw subject matter.

In the context of the quote, Emin's decision to name her exhibition "My Major Retrospective" suggests a deliberate subversion of the traditional retrospective exhibition, typically reserved for artists with long and established careers. By choosing this title for what she believed would be her only exhibition, Emin challenges the conventional trajectory of an artist's retrospective and asserts her agency in shaping her artistic legacy.

Emin's use of the term "retrospective" is particularly significant, as it typically denotes a comprehensive look back at an artist's body of work over a substantial period of time. By applying this term to what she anticipated would be her sole exhibition, Emin appears to embrace a sense of finality and self-awareness, acknowledging the potential for her artistic output to be encapsulated in this one significant presentation.

Furthermore, the inclusion of the possessive pronoun "My" in the title underscores Emin's deeply personal and intimate connection to the exhibition. It conveys a sense of ownership and authorship, positioning the retrospective as a reflection of her individual experiences, emotions, and creative journey. This emphasis on the personal is characteristic of Emin's oeuvre, which often blurs the boundaries between art and autobiography.

Emin's decision to label her exhibition in such a definitive and self-referential manner aligns with her broader artistic practice, which is characterized by a fearless exploration of her own life and emotions. Throughout her career, Emin has fearlessly confronted taboo subjects and laid bare her innermost thoughts, often using her own body and personal experiences as primary sources of inspiration.

In conclusion, Tracey Emin's quote encapsulates her fearless and unapologetic approach to art, as well as her willingness to challenge established norms within the art world. By naming her anticipated sole exhibition "My Major Retrospective," Emin asserts her agency as an artist and embraces the deeply personal and introspective nature of her work. This statement serves as a testament to Emin's uncompromising artistic vision and her unyielding commitment to exploring the complexities of human experience through her art.