She Lay Down Deep Beneath The Sea - Turner Contemporary

Not only is this solo exhibition Tracey Emin's first since her Hayward retrospective, it is also her first major exhibition in her home town in Margate. It seems somewhat fitting, then, that this show should be sombre and serene.

The show starts with an angry exclamation I Said No (the only in the exhibition). This small canvas in unlike Emin's previous work. The colours are seaside whites, blues and greens, thus neutralising the angry omission. To its side is one of Emin's infamous neons - a woman lays bare, green as seaweed and sunk. These works make an intriguing start to what is a different exhibition for Emin.

In the first room the overwhelming colour is blue. Blue nudes adorn the walls; they are seductive, sleek and calm. These nudes lie on the seabed, defeated and watching the world go by. Through these works, Emin is coming to terms with her age, feeling that she has not necessarily given all she has to give, but instead feeling more relaxed with her place in the world. These women, presumably Emin, are not fighting to get to the surface but are lying contented. Sphinx is a white, painted bronze bust of a woman, fluid and deformed. This abstract sculpture reinforces this notion of being contempt.

Sex and sexuality play a big part in the second room, The Vanishing Lake, which has previously been exhibited. A series of tapestries are graphic in their depiction of the female form, much like many pieces in Emin's body of work, however they manage to feel refreshing. The most graphic, Rose Virgin, is alive with colour and meaning - is this the death of Emin's sexuality, or just the start? Maybe the most poignant and telling piece of work in She Lay Down Deep Beneath The Sea is a neon exclaiming I Followed You Into The Water Knowing I Would Never Return. This neon, for me, sums up everything this is exhibition is about; life and death, regeneration and rejuvenation. The journey into the water is the end of life as we know it and is the start of something new and exciting.

Nudes from Rodin and Turner also feature in this beautiful exhibition, acting as a source of reference and inspiration for Emin and her new work. These small works add an extra level of clarity and understanding to the exhibition.

She Lay Down Beneath The Sea is a pleasant departure for Emin and it is extremely fitting that it is held in her hometown of Margate. The beauty and simplicity of these derives, as always, from Emin's personal feelings and emotions and makes for breathtaking viewing. The Turner Contemporary is a brilliant exhibition space and has already made such a difference to the seaside town. Emin's new exhibition is not just an exhibition for fans of her work, but is also for people who have been sceptical of her work as I believe this will definitely give them a different perspective on Emin as an artist. Four and a half stars.