Tate
Young Tate

I, Me, Mine

Our experience of the world is completely unique and therefore so are we. Everything that you have heard, tasted, touched, seen and smelt has helped form the individual you are today. So from your own perspective; who are you? What is yours?

Jeremy Deller’s The Battle of Orgreave Archive (An Injury to One is an Injury to All) (2004), is a collection of artefacts and props used to create the short film EventPlan (2001) that Deller also conceived. Using members of the local community and some professional actors, the project recreates this historical social event as art.

It could be said that all artists are expressing some aspect of themselves; onto paper, into a song, moulding it into clay or into a collection of photographs. Some works are a documentation of a time, place or a feeling.

Much of Tracey Emin's work is based on her family and heritage. In My family When Someone Dies They are Cremated and Their Ashes are Thrown Across the Sea (1997) depicts the death of an uncle. Eleven plaster seagulls hang from a gallery ceiling, the same birds that occupy the area where his ashes were scattered.

A rather different example of an artist reflecting themselves in his art is Peter Blake's Self Portrait with Badges (1961). Like a traditional portrait painter Blake uses literal depictions; a full denim outfit and baseball boots, both hallmarks of the revolutionary 1960's USA he was so fascinated by.

I, Me

I, and Me, denote internal thoughts and feelings inside us that may determine our behaviour. These may come in the form of opinions- about politics, ourselves, someone, fantasies and dreams. They may be memories or thoughts about the past that may conjure up strong emotions. Or they may be events like a coming of age moment, or a once in lifetime occurrence.

Mine

Mine relates to something more external like personal places, people and objects that may hold significance to you. Mine may take the form of personal objects. Maybe given to you by someone special, a souvenir that reminds you of a particular place, maybe something handmade that has significance only to you. Mine can relate to certain people who care for us, who influences us or who repel us. Mine can also be objects of symbolism like national flags or clothing that reflects our gender.

Objects
People
Activities
Places
Hopes, Fears and Memories