Upon visiting Tracey Emin’s “I Followed You to the End” exhibition at White Cube Bermondsey, I was struck by the recurring motif of the bed in her current work. I suppose this resonated with me as the bed also plays a significant role in my own Relationships Series of paintings. This got me thinking how other artists have used the bed in their art, the varied meanings it holds, and how my own use of this motif has developed over the years.
The bed has been a recurring motif in the works of many artists. Several notable painters like Vincent van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Tracey Emin spring to mind.
Vincent van Gogh’s “Bedroom in Arles” series is perhaps one of the more famous examples of the bed as a motif. Painted in 1888, these works depict his simple bedroom in the Yellow House in Arles. The bed in these paintings probably symbolizes a sanctuary, a place of solace and personal retreat amidst the artist’s turbulent life. Maybe it’s a metaphor for van Gogh’s search for peace and stability in his life.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is one of my favourite artists. He often used beds as a stage for themes of intimacy and human connection. In his work, the bed is not merely a piece of furniture; it represents a private world where genuine connections are forged, away from the public eye. These snatched moments of true affection stand in stark contrast to the superficial affections of their working day.
Tracey Emin’s use of the bed as a motif remains a powerful element in her recent work, building on the themes she established with “My Bed” (1998). In Emin’s art, I see the bed representing a deeply personal and autobiographical space, reflecting her experiences, emotions, and vulnerabilities. For someone who has endured long-term illness, the bed and bedroom take on even greater significance, often becoming the artist’s entire world for extended periods.
The bed motif in my Relationships Series has evolved over time, reflecting the change in my own circumstances. Initially, the bed was depicted as a simple, intimate space, and the earlier paintings were autobiographical in nature. They were simply an observation of my own relationship.
As the series progressed, I wanted the bed to take on different meanings, representing not just physical intimacy but also emotional vulnerability and the complexities of relationships. I grew particularly interested in the physical and emotional distance separating couples.
I became fascinated with the sense of loneliness that can exist even within intimate relationships – the bed became a symbol of both connection and isolation.
I want to resume work on this series, but I don’t know how I will proceed. The direction I take depends on finding suitable subjects for my observations. My preference is to find people in actual relationships, but bringing two random individuals together for a sitting can also be interesting. I will keep you updated.
