Is Tracey Emin the new Paul Raymond?
- Published: 04 March 2008 09:19
- Author: Angus Montgomery
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- Last Updated: 04 March 2008 10:38
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Let's consider the evidence shall we?
Raymond, who died on Sunday (selected obituaries from the Guardian , the Telegraph , and Management Today ) made much of his £650 million fortune by astutely marketing female sexuality (or by peddling smut, if you prefer).
In his heyday, he promoted shows such as 'Yes, We Have No Pyjamas' at his Revuebar in Soho and also flogged an extensive portfolio of girlie mags, including Men Only and Razzle.
However, the Financial Times claims Raymond owed a large part of his wealth to his ownership of much of Soho. The paper reports that he owned parts of Old Compton Street, as well as Romilly, Archer and Greek Streets, and had properties in Notting Hill, Hampstead and Chelsea.
Emin, on the other hand, has made much of her considerable fortune by astutely marketing female sexuality (or peddling smut, if you prefer).
She promoted shows such as My Bed, and Everyone I Have Ever Slept with 1963-1995 at venues such as the South London Gallery and the Tate. Her work also popped up in an extensive range of art and style magazines including Frieze and Dazed and Confused.
And the Evening Standard reports that Emin is now moving into property, buying the £4 million Tenter Ground in East London's Spitalfields, a former weaving works that she plans to convert into a giant artists' studio.
As Emin already owns two other studios in Spitalfields, surely the soubriquet 'The Queen of Spitalfields' cannot be far off. Raymond, the former 'King of Soho', would no doubt approve.
